I compiled a massive list of items and then notified Lviyr about it.

What I got back was a huge pile of stuff, which included a keg about twice as big as me, and a note.

"Sorry, I can't make potions or weapons for you due prohibitive cost or lack of precision respectively. Also, as cool as remaking the township would be, I think that that location is compromised... and any defenses you could build wouldn't be likely to be of help at this stage in the game anyway.

"Instead is almost everything else you asked for, including enough tea for everyone in the village. I'm not certain if you have to dilute it, so keep that in mind.

"This will likely be my last letter for a while, the cost of each is starting to add up, sorry for any inconvenience that may cause.

"Signed Lviyr the Gamemaster."

"Damn, I was really hoping for that to go through." I muttered to myself.

"What's wrong?" Sydui asked, not having read the note.

"Delivery restrictions, but that's not important, make sure to get everyone these supplies as soon as possible. If the Fifska can't drink the tea themselves, force-feed it to them if you have to." I clenched my fist. "We're going to save as many lives as we can!"

I searched for the sterilized triage tent and IVs, and got to work setting it all up.

It took several hours, but we moved everyone who could be move safely to the triage tent, which was more than big enough to hold everyone in it at once.

Everyone who couldn't be moved were made as comfortable as possible and checked up on frequently as they underwent their respective treatments.

I shuffled through my packet of notes on Fifska physiology that I had Lviyr send me... apparently he could do a sort of scan on them, which proved to be immensely helpful.

It even included a page or two on how Nemesis Fifskae are different from the regular villagers.

When I was done with the notes, I handed them back to Hund, who was doing his best to give a crash course on emergency medical aid.

The next thing I had was to take Rahyu aside.

Hole Puncher had had some upgrades that I've been putting off making... and a certain Stalker has given me a reason to focus on that task.

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Yuluulth

"Yuluulth, Seliel has been gone a lot, could you make sure she's alright?" Our [Worldbinder] asked.

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I looked up from my viewer confusedly. "Why me of all people?"

Our [Worldbinder] sighed. "Oh divine interspanse spare me, because you're one of her best friends aren't you?"

"I suppose, but I'm-" I began.

"Lviyr, could you help me out here?" She interrupted.

Lviyr shifted in contemplation. "You're the one who is most likely to be able to help with her problems if that makes any sense."

I gave up. "No, but I'll do it I guess."

"Thanks a lot Yuluulth, sorry to put this on you." She offered apologetically.

"It's fine, just kinda annoying."

I got up and walked to check if Seliel was in our breakroom.

On one hand, I did find her, on the other hand she was crying.

I had no idea what to do, so I looked around the room for context clues.

She had her head against the desk and her arms wrapped so that none of the light around her would reach her eyes; her transmitter was face-down on the desk next to her.

She didn't have any sort of drinks or anything next to her, so I carefully scuttled around her to the fabricator.

"Hey Seliel, do you want a smoothie or something?"

She suddenly shot up and had a range of expressions cross her face in rapid succession. Surprise, anger, sadness, and then resignation.

Finally, she put her face back on the table. "Sure, I'll take a gongofruit then."

I pressed in a combination of buttons to start it going.

The both of us just sat in silence for a moment.

Seliel was the first one to speak again. "Hey Yuluulth? Can I stay at your house for a while?"

"What happened?"

She looked at the wall opposite me. "Family problems... I don't want to talk about it..."

"Can't you stay at your boyfriend's house?"

She looked up at me in incredulity. "Yuluulth, I don't have a boyfriend.... where'd you even get that idea?"

I cocked my head to the side. "Oh... I guess that you were so pretty that I had just assumed you did."

Her beak went agape as she stared at me speechlessly.

"Well, if you have nowhere to be, you can absolutely stay at my place until something is figured out." I held her gongofruit smoothie out to her.

That broke her stupor. "Oh, yes, thank you." She took her smoothie.

She suddenly seemed happier for some reason.

That actually reminded me of the patch notes that I needed to check from earlier.

"You're a lifesaver Yuluulth!" She said, rising to her feet.

I tried to hide my confusion. "Happy to help."

The two of us parted ways after that, which seemed to disappoint her somewhat, I couldn't be away from my viewer for too long at this stage of the game.

There was a little bit of stuff I had to quickly take care of once I got back to my chair, but after that my champion seemed to be resting, so I had some time to myself.

I pulled open the patch notes for the Deathworld Game.

[Deathworld Game, Beta Version 0.17.7]

I scanned through the different notes and saw two that caught my eye.

[-New System: "Hazard Shaping", allows gamemasters who have had their champion killed to create new and emergent challenges for the champions who are still in the running. Lots of updates to come on this one!]

[-New System: Custom Champion Entry (CCE for short), you can now enter in new quantum and consciousness data via our brand-new CCE system, allowing for any champion to enter that you could possibly want!]

I see.

I remember that Seliel was really excited for that update at the time.

She and I were telling Jyn, Vindicost, and Lviyr all about it and how it would change everything.

I suppose she and I were right in a manner of speaking.

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Andrew

While I was waiting for Rahyu to finish making the bracing for the tubes and boiling the pseudo-epoxy that were about to be put on Hole Puncher, I looked around the destroyed village.

I hadn't really allowed myself the time to look at it up until now... it was pretty much all destroyed.

My eyes followed the horizon until I saw something in particular.

My eyes filled with tears of rage.

Splinters of the town center monument were strewn about everywhere.

"Andrew... what's wrong?" Sydui asked beside me.

"I swear to you and everyone that I'll make a better one once this is all over."

She looked where I was looking and understood.

The both of us simply stood, offering only our reverence and our hope that more names wouldn't have to be added soon.