So, now I have thirty of each twigling type, plus two level ones and the level eight. I got bored pretty quickly building twiglings but pushed through it. Eventually I got so bored that my mind started wandering and I thought back to how effective the blast plant was and that it was too bad I couldn't bring it to my enemies. Then I realized, I probably can, it’s a plant and I'm a dryad. So I built some extra minions and added the level eight to the pool since I need to phase him out anyway. The test group consisting of the level eight and two levels one is currently waiting on the edge of the area where the blast plant resides, hiding behind a tree to prevent any unnecessary losses in the event of a misfire. Which I get the feeling is going to have a lot of, might actually need more twigings. But I'll grow them as I go if that happens. But for now, starting test one!

I pump mana into the selected test sack, hardening its ultra thin skin until it can’t take any more mana. Once that’s done I send forth the twigling. The level eight walks up and as gently as a twigling can, grabs the sack and starts pulling. It takes a bit, but with a little crimping of the connection on my end it manages to pop the sack free, falling over in the process. No explosion, a good start. The twigling picks itself up, putting a lot of pressure on the sack in its hands in the process, but still no explosion happens. Next I order the twigling to try and break open the sack. It starts stabbing and clawing at the sack with its free hand for a bit, before eventually throwing it at the floor and proceeding to use both claws. Still no explosion. I order the twigling to stand down and leave the sack where it is. Test one complete, seems to be a bit too strong to be used properly in the field. It wont detonate when I need it to so I’ll leave that where it is and use it to see if even in a reinforced state it will detonate if another sack goes off nearby. Now starting test two.

I do the same thing again, this time only putting in half the required mana. A little crimping and the twigling easily pulls the sack off, not even falling over this time. Next I order it to attack the sack. The same process as last time repeats, expect for this time when the twigling is attacking the sack on the ground it finally ruptures. The resulting explosion engulfs the other sack on the ground, causing it to detonate as well. All that’s left of the level eight are a few charred splinters that get ejected from the explosion, still smoldering as they hit the ground. Well, that's two questions answered. I think I need to tweak the mana input a little, but this is definitely workable. Getting on to test three I move it down to about thirty percent mana possible and have one of the level ones come out and pull the sack off. No problems with that so I move on to having the twigling attack the sack. The moment it tightens its grip on the sack it ruptures and the explosion kills the twigling.

So, thirty isn't enough. Yes, I can get it off the plant but it looks like any jostling will cause it to detonate prematurely. Reason it didn't detonate getting pulled off is because I made it super easy to pull off. Now, test number four. I have the last twigling go out and grab the newest reinforced sack, this one on about thirty eight percent mana reinforcement. The sack comes off no problem, and moving onto the attack test yields promising results. The sack does not rupture when the twigling tightens its grip or even on the first slash. It finally gives out and an explosion takes hold on the second slash. That's the result I'm looking for! Now onto the newest problem. Suicide bombers are going to be hard to make, because twiglings have a propensity to drop their weapons and just try to kill shit with their hands when the general attack order is given. I can micro manage them when within my domain, but if I ever have to take them outside of it? There is going to be trouble.

But that's only if I get into fights outside of my domain, which I don’t plan on doing. But that there is the problem, just because I don’t plan on it happening doesn’t mean it won't happen. I’m sure there is at least one asshole out there who can drop a spell on my head from outside my area, probably more than one. And from how hard they chased me down I don’t have a doubt in my mind that they will go pull them away from whatever they’re doing and have them start dropping shit on my head. Which means I need forces that can go out and deal with enemies outside my range, even if it’s a one time suicide mission. Unfortunately all the twiglings seem to want to do is just charge in swinging if I don’t micromanage them. Wait, what if I don’t need to have them detonate the sacks themselves? Those warriors in that five man party from before used some sort of skill or spell that cut the poor things in half instantly. I have no doubt that that kind of attack could rupture the sacks, so all I need to do is add the sacks to the twiglings. Well I can’t directly add them, so I’ll just have to tie them on. One on the left hand and one on the torso should do just fine.

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So I get to work, there are about nine pods left on the blast plant, which will allow me to create four suicide bomber twiglings. Securing the makeshift bombs to the twigling should be easy enough, just need to tie them on with some homemade cloth. First I make the twiglings, that's two and a half hours just watching the plants grow. Honestly watching paint dry might be more entertaining at this point.

Once I’m done creating the level ones, away from everything else so no accidents cause mass casualties, I send them off to the blast plant while I start working on weaving long strips of cloth. Once they get to the blast plant I do the proper reinforcements on the high explosive beans and have them pluck them off and bring them back, all the while I’m working on the cloth. I finish up my weaving a bit before the twiglings get back. I start the draining process and get myself cleaned off. This next part requires more delicacy than the twiglings can perform, so I unfortunately have to be the one to do it. I don’t think I’m in that much danger as long as I’m careful. The pods still require a few hits from the twiglings to break open so as long as I don’t purposefully try to break it open I shouldn’t explode.

I collect my cloth strips and take the pods from the first twigling. These things feel weird to hold personal, maybe it has something to do with the possibility of instant vaporization. I carefully use the cloth to tie the sacks to the twigling, making sure the bindings are tight but not stressing the pods. Once its payload is secure I send it back to its base station to wait. I repeat this process for the next three twiglings, somehow keeping my hand steady the whole time. I only let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding after the last twigling disappeared behind the bushes. It takes a complicated route to minimize collisions with bushes or low branches, just like the three before it. I take a moment to check up on my armor, see how it's holding up against the sap of my pod. So far it seems to be holding up fairly well, no visible damage at least.

Just as I turn around to head back to my pod, something steps into my domain. A human steps into my domain, then another, and another. At first I crack a smile and get a little giddy, I’ll get to test out my new creation. But my minor joy slowly sinks away, replaced by mounting dread as another, and another, and even more humans keep stepping into my domain.

I start to panic a bit, before remembering I have an army of my own. They aren't nearly as well trained or high level, but they don’t need to be. This is my turf, I am in control. They are literally surrounded by weapons right now, trees they don’t even realize are a danger to them. Alone the twiglings and trees would probably do nothing to these guys, but if I lump them together into a surprise attack while including my new bombers. Well, I might have a chance at beating these people. But it’s going to be an uphill battle to say the least, especially since their fuckin boss just stepped in.

Stalt (Ork, Level 52 Apprentice Knight)

Fuck me, the gods of this world just love my suffering don’t they.