Upgrade Design!
Skill ‘Upgrade Design’ used: New design acquired!
* Red Snake-Worm: This design creates a 5 foot long, invertebrate snake, equipped on one end with a massive, tooth-filled mouth. Its teeth are needle-like in shape and vary in length from ½ an inch to 2 inches long. They are also razor-sharp and have a mild paralytic poison suitable for stunning low-level delvers. While they would be constantly ravenous and ferocious in the wild, servants have no need to eat, which mellows their personality some. Still, they have strong predatory instincts, hunting in packs and establishing a well-protected territory. These creatures can live on land but prefer deep pools of freshwater.
OhmygoshKepler we have danger noodles!! Clare shrieked excitedly, drawing a curious look from Astrid. Super ferocious pack-hunting danger noodles! This is so amazing!
It was their first use of ‘Upgrade Design,’ and already it was proving fruitful.
[They are certainly impressive.] Kepler hummed quietly to himself. [I do hope they get along with Astrid, though.]
Astrid focused on them further, querying Kepler in a muddled fashion.
[You are not speaking clearly.] He replied seriously. [I cannot respond if I don’t know what you’re asking.]
Astrid huffed, turning to Clare with the same question.
Are you asking what we were saying about you? Clare cooed.
Her infant ‘servant’ mentally nodded, although her body stayed quite still.
[We’re getting more servants.] Kepler said, [If they perform better than you, we may replace you permanently.]
Kepler! Clare turned back to Astrid, Don’t worry about that, Astrid, we’d never replace you. We were just wondering if you all would get along.
Astrid shook a fist at Kepler, then bounced off through the watery tunnels to hunt. She pointedly ignored their conversation, although not convincingly.
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Clare turned to Kepler, glaring.
[What? It’s best for her to improve herself—she can’t get too comfortable.]
She’s just a baby.
[I don’t see how that’s relevant. I was capable of doing my duties as soon as I was created. And we never planned on her being otherwise.]
Clare sighed, glancing over at Astrid who didn’t seem to be affected, just peeved. Not everyone is the same, Kepler. Children need time to grow.
Kepler turned away from her pointedly, but she could see over his shoulder. He was examining Astrid’s status.
Status-
Name: Astrid Hatt
Species: Water Giant
Age: 6 hours, 30 minutes
Status Effects: Infancy, Dungeon Child
* Infancy: This Water Giant is going through her infancy stage. Majorly reduced size and stats. Leveling slowed. Effect will be removed once sufficient age is reached.
* Dungeon Child: This Water Giant was created by the dungeon, and as such cannot leave. She will respawn indefinitely and can communicate with the dungeon telepathically.
Level: 1
Health: 100%
Class: None.
MP Unavailable due to Infancy
XP: 0/10
SP: 0
Strength: 7
Agility: 10
Dexterity: 10
Intelligence: 2
Mana Affinity: 3
Charisma: 0
Skills Unavailable due to Infancy
Spells Unavailable due to Infancy
Quests: 0
Kepler huffed softly, putting the stat sheet away. [What kind of joke is this,] he mumbled to himself, [This wasn’t in the designs.]
Kepler. Clare mentally poked him. Let’s just let it go. You’ll be nicer to her now, right?
[I am not required to be nice.] He responded firmly, [As the protector of your soul I am, at times, required to be incredibly mean.]
Kepler… She sighed.
Astrid started hunting the diplurans again, but failed to catch them, mostly. Distracted.
[A child is not a threat.] Kepler finally said, flopping back onto Clare’s metaphorical lap. It made her miss her real lap, but they had maintained a kind of mental space between them. He was even creating a more stable form of expressing himself, something between a cat/dog and a human/water giant, which would have been disturbing if seen in reality. [I will be gentler.]
Astrid perked up, vindicated, and began hunting the water bugs in earnest.