Khenal
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Chapter Three-Hundred Twenty-Nine
🕑 Added 2025-01-31 03:18:48 +0000 UTCSpring is one of those seasons I often forget actually exists, probably because of where I used to live. North enough and high enough that winter would often muscle into the territory of the other seasons, and though I think Fourdock is definitely north enough, being close to the ocean makes it difficult for winter to really try to dig in its fingers and hang on.
I also wasn’t really involved in farming, so it’s not like I had to pay attention to when crops were planted. But as I look over the expedition reports, I’d say spring is solidly, unquestionably here. Winter has been beaten back and made to sit in the corner, and summer is still a ways off. So birds are singing, bees are buzzing, and delving is booming.
I’m not kidding, either. I thought the delvers over winter were just sticking through with their normal schedules, but that really was them taking it easy. I think most groups were doing a delve or two a week, now they’re doing long delves, day after day, as long as they don’t break anything, or get some other serious injury.
They still happen, and though I’d like to be able to stop it, I don’t think it’d help the delvers. Even the most brutal bootcamp doesn’t actually shoot at you, so there’s always a lot in a fight that can only be theoretical knowledge. But with letting them fight enough to get seriously hurt, they learn how to deal with that kind of situation, no matter how unpleasant it is.
I really do want to make sure my delvers are ready to take on mean dungeons and be able to not only survive, but thrive. I would be concerned about how many seem to be specializing in dealing with me, if it weren’t for the fact that so many of them probably wouldn’t be delving me at all if it weren’t for the effort I and my scions take to make sure people survive.
There’s a lot of casual delvers, and as I read the reports coming in from the foxes, it’s not surprising to see why. Even here, people dream of what they think is impossible. Everyone wants to be that cool swordsman or wizard, the stealthy rogue, the valiant paladin, but most people have classes that definitely aren’t made for fighting.
That doesn’t make them helpless though. A hammer strike designed to drive nails works just as well against monsters. It’s just that nails don’t often fight back. But with the safety of my territory, a lot of civilian classes like to come and test themselves. It makes me think of people who like to go paintballing or skydiving or things like that. A way to get a bit of excitement in a mostly safe way, and to keep in shape.
Some professions are pretty simple to see applied to a delve. A carpenter knows a hammer, a lumberjack knows an axe, a tailor knows scissors. They might not sound like a weapon, but they’re just two specialized blades. Two short swords is apparently enough for at least a couple skills to translate, or maybe that one guy is just weird.
Either way, watching the more casual delvers is probably even more fun than the pros. The experienced delvers are confident and look a lot cooler, but the casuals just have so much more to learn, and it’s fun seeing them do it. That group didn’t leave enough room in their packs, so now they can’t carry what they want, this group over here has no idea if they can handle the Gauntlet, but trying sounds fun. This other group might be getting sent out in defeat after getting lost in the tunnels and low on healing supplies.
I wonder how many more professionals there would be if they were able to cut their teeth on a dungeon like me? I don’t know if all of the pros have lost people in their party, but I’d bet they all had at least an acquaintance that didn’t make it out of a different dungeon. That actually makes it easy to spot the new arrivals.
With spring solidly in control, the roads are open and delvers seem to be flocking to me and to Fourdock. The ones freshly here all move carefully, suspiciously, even around the manor. Oddly, they seem to get even more on edge when the denizens avoid them. Maybe in other dungeons, the meaner things tend to keep the easier denizens away. I guess it’d make sense. Sure, I still get mana for them killing the weaker denizens, but if I wanted to maximize the mana the delvers give me, their time would be better spent fighting the big things, rather than the small fry.
I keep them away because there’s no shortage of lower level delvers to have the easy denizens challenge instead. And it’ll encourage the stronger delvers to go to the stronger areas. Even with the forest only at… I dunno, 40%? Even with it clearly unfinished, delvers are already crawling all over it. The armory bees are a hit with the delvers almost always taking their weapons and looking joyous whenever they get some of the honey.
From what Honey and Queen have been able to tell, it’s a lot safer to handle than the metal elixir, and I’ve seen a few delvers use it to patch up armor and sometimes weapons. Just smear a bit of mud or clay on it, apply some armory honey, and you have an instant patch! I doubt it’s as good as a professional job, but certainly better than just leaving damaged gear as it is.
As far as defeating the stronger delvers, the most dangerous combo in the forest right now seems to actually be mischief foxes and dreamblooms. My delvers definitely are having trouble discerning illusions from reality, and when that kind of deception is combined with loot from the packrats and ravens, a lot of delvers are learning the hard way that, if it looks like free loot, it probably isn’t.
Which the mischiefs take advantage of, actually leaving a few piles of free loot in areas suspiciously free of denizens. The mindgames are great, and I’m definitely going to need to spend to put some chests around the forest. Sure, their locations will eventually be mapped out, but the delvers will never know which is free for the taking, and which is a clever trap to knock them out and defeat them.
I giggle to myself as I watch a group eye a pile of jewelry laying in the middle of a little glade packed full of dreamblooms. There’s no illusion here, just a simple pile of bait and the implied question: do you dare?
They bicker at the edge of the field of flowers, the three elves arguing about if any of it’s real, if they should take an antidote and just charge out there, send just one, splitting up is bad and you are stupid, no you’re stupid, your face is stupid, and so on. Before they make a decision, I feel Aranya trying to get my attention, so I shift my focus over to her.
While all three enclaves have their own places to… worship me, I guess, the ratkin enclave is working on a larger place. A cathedral compared to the shrines of the others. I’d try to discourage them, but more and more people are showing up to get service, and I don’t just mean attend a sermon… though there’s more that show up for that than I would have expected, too. Healing is very popular, and it looks like a couple of my clerics even offer rental services as support to parties who need it out in my territory.
But that’s not what Aranya is trying to get my attention for. Instead, she has another kobold next to her, her scales seafoam green compared to Aranya’s red, and she has an elf and a changeling standing nearby, looking nervous and hopeful as they wait. But her companions and even her scales can’t keep my attention away from the bow she has. It looks a lot like the ones my delvers make, but looking closer, it has a lot stronger draw than any of them, and the pulleys aren’t quite optimized to leverage the mechanical advantage. Still, I wouldn’t want to get shot by someone who can manage to draw it.
“Ah, Lord Thedeim is watching. Would you please repeat your request?” Aranya says with a smile, though the three gathered look even more nervous, especially the lady kobold. Seeing as she’s almost certainly from the Maw, I can’t blame her. Still, she steels her resolve, and speaks.
“O-oh Great Lord Thedeim,” she begins, only to be interrupted by Aranya with an understanding smile.
“You can just call Him Thedeim if you wish. He tries to get me to do it all the time, in fact. Just be honest with Him, and I’m sure He’ll do what He can to help.”
The pale green kobold nervously nods and starts again. “Th-Thedeim…?” she starts, pausing to see if she gets smote. As she continues to be perfectly fine, she slowly continues. “I… I’m a hauler, but I don’t want to be. I… The Maw, it…” She stutters, trying to find the words, and Aranya pats her shoulders, encouraging the woman. After a few seconds, she gathers herself and continues. “I want to advance my class, but as far as I know, there isn’t an advancement for a hauler. Can… can you help me?”
I consider her for a few moments before carefully touching her status. While I think I can take a peek without people noticing, it still feels a bit invasive to do, but if she wants my help, I think I need to get a closer look at what I’d be working with. I don’t know if I can do anything, but I’m certainly willing to try. Her eyes widen when she feels me, and I can feel her flinch away for a moment before she deliberately and slowly leans into my request.
I look over her status, and the first thing I notice is she has a ton of strength, and that doesn’t even count her abilities to enhance her lifting and hauling ability. She also has a ton of endurance, which isn’t a surprise either. What is a surprise is that I can feel two potential ways to nudge her.
One is a concept I can feel is a pretty solid one that exists here already. It’s a type of heavy archer that feels like it usually comes from being a siege archer or similar that would stay mostly in towers or atop walls and guard whatever’s inside. The closest translation for what comes after would be a sniper, which often advances further into a variety of assassin. I don’t think she’d want to go that far, but slow rate of fire, heavy hits, and some camouflage ability would probably be a great thing if she wants to be an adventurer of some variety.
The other one feels a lot more ephemeral, but I think I know what to solidify it into. Teamsters always make me think of the mafia, but they’re not about breaking kneecaps and making offers people can’t refuse. They’re all about getting things from point A to point B. If you want it moved, a teamster should know how to move it. And though there are merchants and other people, I’m sure, who move things around, I can feel a difference that I can’t quite describe. Maybe if I knew more about the logistics of moving things, I would, but all I really need to know is there is a difference.
I pull back from the kobold’s status and see she looks shaken, though Aranya helps steady her. “Easy there, Marle. His touch can be intense, but not harmful.” I feel a bit bad as she nods, tears in her eyes, and I just hope she’s just trying to deal with emotions rather than pain from anything I did.
“I can feel He has found two paths for you as well.”
Marle turns hope filled eyes on my High Priestess as she talks. “The first is a sniper, a ranged combat class specializing in stealth and devastating ranged attacks.” Marle looks uncertain at that, so Aranya continues. “The other is an advancement for the hauler class. No one would dare demand you move something. Rather they would ask or even beg, knowing you can get it where they need it, quickly and safely. Those are the paths before you.”
Marle looks back at her friends, looking for guidance. Without looking at their status, it’s still pretty easy to identify them as some kind of wood workers. “It’s… up to you, Marle. You could be a real adventurer, if you want,” encourages the elf, though it’s pretty clear he’d be sad to see her go. A sniper is a pretty advanced adventuring class, and she’d probably want to take on delves a lot tougher than they could handle.
She closes her eyes and takes a shuddering breath before opening them. “I want to advance my current class. I don’t hate hauling… I just hated being stuck.”
Aranya smiles and draws on her mana, and I give her a drop of my power to help this along. I hope I won’t be stepping on Order’s toes with this, but Marle really does need some help. I watch her status, and see the sniper path is already gone. It probably vanished as soon as she made her decision, and it makes me wonder if this is how Order actually decides what class to give people in the first place. I back out as I feel the change start to work, not wanting to intrude on her privacy more than I already have.
From the outside, it feels incredibly anti-climactic. Just a slow wave of orange sweeping across her, and it’s done. Aranya catches her as she falls, her legs giving out as she comes to terms with the fact that things really have changed for her. “I’m a Teamster…” she mutters, repeating herself as if she can’t believe it. My High Priestess motions Marle’s friends forward, letting them support the stunned kobold.
“Get her to a seat over there and just give her some time. She’ll need friends to help her on her new path.” The two nod with determination and focus on Marle, gently guiding her to a seat as I get a popup.
Class Change. Interesting. I should have known.
Order doesn’t elaborate with the message, but I get the feeling he’s more shaking his head and chuckling than frowning and grumbling. I feel like, instead of stepping on his toes, I’ve accidentally solved an issue he’s been having. Either way, I don’t get any other popups, and Aranya seems to have the situation in control here, so I let my attention wander back to the group at the dreambloom field.
Looks like they decided the field was an illusion, and they’re all taking a nice nap right now. I nudge Goldilocks to get a few denizens and deliver them to the gates, and resume watching the delvers do their thing, feeling nicely satisfied at how things are going. There’ll be something on the horizon to try to shake things up some more eventually, but for now, I’m happy to watch the delvers work to improve themselves, seeking challenge and the rewards that come with it.
Comments
Jerry A
What I find strange, is why he not followed the thives that left, but then I realise things like the shadow path thing exist, as well as the space rift things.
Ben Bass
TYFTC! Now I wonder how many others will approach Thediem for help getting with stuck classes?
AssumedPseudonym
I will +1 the bajeezus out of that. ^.^
Ethan Barrow
TFTC!! I love that as the God of Change he has the ability to assist with class changes. It makes so much sense but it never came to mind, great choice!!!!
mly85lc
Well it could also be Orders own domain blocking him form bring forth needed effects. After-all Order seems person that like things category's in.. well in order. And if we say [Teamester] means some that deliver bulck goods form A to B. Then boht person moving horse Carriages or is [drive] full blown caravan is [Teamester]. As is one using say flight of giant's birds to beliver goods. How is skillset that bring benifict effects to this two different approach be "in order"? Far less so when you add sea bulck deliver. That in some sence is [Teamester] what move draft animals forward is different effects that move ship forward. And then there underwater deliver, moving something in water tight sack in underwater. Plus since MC knowledge is involve have something mechanical transport option involve in [Teamester] would also be possible.. say golems? Or magial transport in general..
Lord-Siver
hmm Order being there and being like "Oh of course! That is a good idea!" Sounds to me like if they had problems with someone being stuck and not able to grasp their full potential. Order being Order they probably thought with a good thought out plan the stuck ppl would get where they should but TheDM being all about change showed him again that sometimes a view from another angle sometimes gives you the nudge in the right direction.
William Anderson
TYFTC! Loved the class change and seeing orders reaction
mly85lc
meaby in this settings they could even have done a divine bell and Scubster in one some form, to explorer's the sea... though there seems no reason building such platforms since divine potions aredy exsting.
o0 hazzy 0o
Awesome chapter definitely want to see more of orders thoughts on the shenanigans thedm is pulling
Brandon Steele
I really enjoyed this dungeon story. It is probably one of the best ones in that genre. One opinion I have about the story is I feel you have a good chunk of the peaks and chapters backwards. The whole "show don't tell". Have the peaks be the "tell" part of the dungeon's decision making such as majority of this chapter or chapter 322. Whereas I think a lot of your peaks "show" the changes the dungeon makes very well and should be the main story such as "Navigating the Gardens of Knowledge" and "Leaving the Woods". Though this is an opinion of a reader not a writer.
mly85lc
All this Teamester talk make me wonder if this settings has fully mechanical transport... sure make steam engine seems off. But hot air ballons and maybe Zeppelins could be possible in theory... granted local wild life and monster would probably break such thigs. Plus even if they're where proctetion in place operating such things would hardly be cost effectively transport option if status buffet supers can move trought land faster than you on air.
Demonlord
Thanks for the amazing chapter as always 😊 It's nice to see the problem solved, Order being surprised and all the daily things of delving Thediem 😊 Can we have a peak with Orders POV please?
mly85lc
Oh and maybe spawner for trap makeing mechanical or ohters wise. Of and some kind quick easy to set up information spawner telepathy communication/spy spawner.
Magnadra
maybe a way forward from the hauler class? Hopefully we get a peek from Order
mly85lc
Speaking of means dungeons.. since MC is settings up Spy's/information network up how about having spawner(s) that are specialise on sabotors be it building or people? Something drilling trought structures unseen and settings up way spy on trought them or to break/make unable to use thous buildings. Then there's long time poison/gas and curse option to think sure MC ain't some one that would pick and use thous as main wepon but knowing how to uses them is also knowing how do deal with them or counter they uses.Plus different between non magial poison and medicine is dosage so theres nich there. And since kingdoms army's is coming to play, MC can later claim that he make thous spawns for theyry trainings benificts, better have troops that know how to handeling thous things before going to war.
mly85lc
Hmm in RL teamester seems to be loos definition of bulk transport of several methods and "goods" be it raw materials finished products or living creatures. With varied deliver methods be it trought land, sea/rivers or air... the big questions here is can same class special it's deliver or do same skill work on land caravan, ships on water or delivers under it.. or air if there groups of birds or classes runing trought it delivers messages.
mly85lc
Heh funny thought... since one off tameing recuimets is makeing connection to MC creatures.. how about shield followers make connection to one of his livingdeaht zombies? That would be instresting mess hall conversation with new comers...
mly85lc
Thought instead spiders mayde raven or bat since they can scout's ahead? Or foxs if your into trying sneak something past security..
mly85lc
Teamester would eventually find it useful to have ohters set of eyes to look after theyry cargo. So going to ask how to tame and leater look after Telheims creatures form long time specialist seams propriet.
mly85lc
Not mentioning that in this settings most used engine for bulk transport seems to be draft animals getting ablity boost or proctet them feels fitting to task... though still it might be more hands on magial ability than say fireball
NDF 07
Unfortunately gravity affinity doesn't exist.... yet, but once Teemo does gain it through the interconnectedness of it and space it will be an affinity available to anyone
LinaBoeckwurm
Also, I am definitely interested in the tailor who translated scissors skills into two swords... Yes, he is definitely weird, but in a good way that I want to see more about! Hope we might get a peek about him in the future!
mly85lc
Well... in this world going point a to b may include bandits.. or dangerous wild life.. so having ability boht proctet your wears and book it out off there could be part of class focus.
LinaBoeckwurm
Loved the chapter! So glad to see an update on our favourite side story ship!
Juno Tubolino
Woo! Dockworkers from the Peeks mentioned! Tyftc as always!
mly85lc
And give perfect reason to have set of dungeon guardians move to thous place.. say. Fox, raven, dragon and maybe one undeath... hmm maybe Thediem could do church lite version and have "change orbs" that works as gates ways to class change... by showing thous pahts to users, then have one of his priest start prosses. That way they dont need build a full one church but can just set it up near Orders already existing place... and he in turn can go find thous that have system based need for new classes.
Jacob
That was a magnificent take on class changes. I love how he could come to fill that sort of niche in the world of diety, and I LOVE the idea of a Teamster. It brings to mind old 1920's mobsters transporting illegal whiskey, or that awesome combination of bruiser and chauffeur that's. . . Well I guess that's what a teamsters isn't it. Love it. Fantastic stuff.
Tsume Eiranis
Thank you for the chapter! Was a great mix of "what's going on daily" and "that's a neat unique thing"
Tsume Eiranis
Great idea, would be a neat peek
Brandon C
I wonder how often people are going to ask Thediem for class changes. Doesn’t seem that Order normally does it, but it’s a perfect niche for the god of change to do. Gives a good reason for a huge number of churches in a wide variety of places.
Patrick Ferguson
Not again!!! What's a patron got to do?! Wait, my status says I'm now a patron companion?! What did you do?!
Herakilla
Thanks for the chapter! I love this so much. The fact that Order seems to have been surprised yet again. Hopefully Thedeim will meet them soon! I guess I kind of assumed that class changes would be a natural order of things. But maybe Order was overly regimented and didn't allow enough flexibility? Something that our new God of change can address directly
Black Esper
Why can't there be magic? The description was to get things from A to B quick and safe. There is potential magic there like space, gravity or kinetic. And moving things includes longer distance so some affinity to air or something for speed and attack/defense seems possible.
AbyssalIceLord
Oh.....i like this suggestion a lot. Good idea!! Especially seeing Orders POV
Austin Miller
Aww... Darn. Was really hoping she'd get magic. Our little hauler seemed so happy about it. Who knows, maybe she'll get space affinity with that Teamster change.
AbyssalIceLord
As perfect as ever, i swear Khenal is the only patreon writer i follow right now that never ever delivers a lack luster chapter...some of the others do occasionally with random nonsense in their chapters that leave me feeling like i gained nothing, but even in the simple chapters, there is always some good and interesting info. Bravo! As always.
Geoff Urland
Hmmm. I wonder what Order was having trouble understanding?
Durphymcbob
Wait, its the CAUSALS, they are offically in the story and Cannon no longer in Peak Limbo!
Rick Delallata
What a cool chapter
Typhoonator
Thanks for the chapter! I know next to nothing about Teamsters so maybe the peek can be about what exactly the class entails? Or maybe we can see things from Order's POV?
chris Bell
Nooooooo i wanna know what our mayors dad had to say lol always next week 😅
Roope
It makes sense for the god of change to have class changes in his domain if there wasnt a system in place for it in the first place. I think it will be one of thedeims clergys biggest services they will provide. I love this chapter, thanks for the read
Anthony Felscher
Awesome chapter! I'm glad Marl got that figured out!
ColdBlooded Network
I HAVE BEEN SUMMONED!! Great work!! Thank you.
