“Now den. Yousa practice lots whiles I goes an checks on Obu.” Razum’s sporecap nodded but the mind behind it was intensely focused, like a well-honed blade. Dug grunted an encouragement before leaving the garden behind. Dug and Razum had been training for some time with the former helping the latter to first categorize his new academic knowledge of spores before introducing the various applications of that knowledge.
According to Razum, the “Experience” he had gained from his excursion into Obu’s Dungeon allowed him to go from the theoretical to the applicable far quicker than Dug thought possible. It could just be talent and certainly some of that seemed to apply but it was far more likely in Dug’s mind that it was more of the System’s tomfoolery.
That vein of thought was what had led Dug to teach more holistically than normal. Usually, he would teach the same subject until it was mastered but in this case, he chose to diversify. He had taught Razum the beginnings of sporecraft, before turning to simple Aether manipulation, and finally, to the calling forth and cultivation of the Waag. Such a balanced approach would hopefully make the most of the odd situation and Dug was determined that his son would have the greatest of foundations upon which to stand.
Still, after a whole day spent training his son, who seemed to soak up teaching like a sponge did water, it was time to check on his other child. He had felt the bond between them flex and when he had checked he had found that her Rank had increased. This interested him and so as he made his way out of his fungal garden he angled his path so that it led to the entrance of Obu’s Dungeon.
Peeking his head inside inquisitively he shrugged and upon seeing that there wasn’t a message or notification, continued on his way. He didn’t know exactly why entering Obu’s Dungeon functioned differently for him than for Razum or the Muskeera and Talpi but he suspected it either had something to do with the fact that he shared a bond with his daughter or that he had never been integrated.
As he stumped his way through the different Rooms and the tunnels connecting them he made a note of the differences between the first time he had been here and the current Dungeon. Obu seemed to be progressing rapidly which was good. Razum and Obu both seemed to have aspects that gave them more strength than their Rank would reflect and those strengths helped them advance quickly.
Dug trudged past the Second Room without stopping as the Owlbats in there were similar to the ones he had fought outside though smaller and less powerful. He did stop in the Third Room however as the increased Rank of the Gits there gave him hope for the future. The presence of the Waag was stronger within them and their blood sang a little sweeter than it had previously.
He stumbled upon the unconscious form of Cheep-Cheep in his meanderings but the small creature needed no healing so Dug simply passed him by considering the respawning monsters seemed to be paying him no heed. The “Miniboss” was interesting. Dug spent a few minutes poking and prodding the newly respawned creature despite its protests at the treatment. It was a little more intelligent and its blood was almost to true bloodline levels but it was still weak, like watered-down Gobbo Grog—still a failure but very close to success.
Eventually, Dug released the Gitboss and it retreated into the darkness yowling in its gutteral half-language. Cackling to himself Dug continued to the next Room where he had to stop and stare. There was Waag in this Room, he could feel it in his bones. As he made his way further in he could even see the reflections of the dancing flames in the large pool of water that dominated the center of the cavern. There on the other side of the pool from the entrance was a goblin mineshaft. To Dug it was a familiar sight and he knew that Obu must have used her memories of their travels together to recreate the place.
He stood and watched the flickering flames, centering himself to continue. Pride flared deep within his chest for the Waag was genuine. It was weak, gasping and sputtering like it could go out at any moment, but it was a true expression. He made his way over and then climbed the rickety scaffolding until he was face to face with the flame. The fire was pleasant to the touch and it warmed his heart that even here on another world, the Waag lived on.
Dug was old and he didn’t know how long he had left. There would come a day when he would face the Maker’s judgment and it soothed his spirit to know that the Waag would be passed on through his children. They would shake the foundations of this world and its System. There would be time for dying later. Until then, he had work to do.
Turning from the flame, Dug made to head deeper only to pause at the sight of movement further in. His eyes made out the frame of another Git and he sighed. He still made his way over expecting disappointment but the reality was quite surprising. He found a true Git. It was picking its nose and its eyes were rather dull but its bloodline was pure. It was still the lowest of the low and most likely dumb as a bag of bricks but it showed promise.
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The creature itself was Rank F(3) and like all of his daughter’s monsters it acted like it was at the maximum level for its Rank, not that he knew exactly what that meant. With Rank F(3) being the threshold for a true Git, Dug had to wonder what the threshold for a true goblin would be. Still, the fact that there was a pure bloodline of any goblinoid in a realm that had never before seen them was a cause for celebration.
Dug almost let out an actual whoop but composed himself and settled for a celebratory bonk on the Git’s head with his staff. He left it there rubbing its head in confusion as he made his way to the next Room. It was here that he felt his daughter’s presence industriously working away and he wasn’t disappointed by what he found.
Even as he watched stone was devoured, moved, and restored as a long cavern chamber took shape. The sheer Aetheric might at work was astonishing. She continued on for quite some time, completely absorbed in her work, and gradually a large central cavern with branching mine shafts and scaffolding took shape. Dug found a place to sit even as wooden carts began appearing in the central chamber filled with rough iron ore. Sleeping births were carved into some of the side passages and within them Dug was sure Obu would hide her spawners. Perhaps she did it so that it would seem as though the monsters had just awoken from sleep for their shifts.
Regardless it wasn’t long before he had confirmation as a Git Miner stumbled bleary-eyed from one of the side tunnels. Its rusted pickaxe was held loosely as it yawned loudly. It was joined by another and Dug watched as the cavern came to life. It was fascinating and even more so when a ripple passed through the place, disturbing the Aether. The pulse smoothed out irregularities and filled the cavern by making everything seem more real.
Dug had been doing homework of his own and he was getting better at recognizing the System’s touch on the world. This newest wonder seemed in tune with what he had discovered. He got up and moved to where his daughter’s presence had paused. He gave her the mental approximation of a poke and was gratified when her presence jumped in surprise.
“Dad! What are you doing here?” The surprise in her voice confirmed just how focused she had been on crafting this final room. Dug smiled up at where he believed she was looking at him and addressed her question.
“Isa jus’ checking in. Razum beez doing well and jus’ needs more practice soes Isa figured I wud check on yous.”
“Oh, okay! Well I’m doing great! I finally got enough of my Rooted Attribute to finish the Floor!” Her excitement was palpable and Dug grinned as he pointedly took in the Room she had made.
“Et beez lookin good! Whatta youz put in dis one den? Isa saw dah minibossa yousa put in dah turd room. Yousa get anyting special in dis one?” It was a question he’d had since leaving the fourth room. While he was excited that his daughter had a pure goblinoid he was more excited to see what the future would hold.
His daughter didn’t disappoint. “Yeah! I have a boss spawner that I can put down to finish this room but I’m a little torn. I had wanted to split it up so that I would have a Gitboss with an animal companion, one of the Owlbats but enhanced. I don’t think that will work yet, though. I kind of want the Owlbat to be big enough for the Gitboss to ride and for that, I definitely need a bigger space.”
Dug nodded his head at her words. He didn’t know much about what she was talking about but he wanted to support her. So he pulled from his memories of his youth when he had lived in a mine similar to this one. “Hows about a Foreman? Most of dee mines isa been in ‘ad some bossa in charge of da mining.” He proposed simply.
From the way his daughter agreed immediately she must have been having similar thoughts. “I didn’t want to give up my original idea so quickly,” she said to his questioning look. “I knew it would fit better thematically but I wanted to stay true to my original vision if I could.”
“Dat makes sense,” Dug acknowledged. “Den get to et. Looka forward to seein dah monsta.”
Obu didn’t disappoint and in the back of the cave she carved out another chamber with some rough finery. He didn’t know how she did it but she was able to craft rough sleeping quarters with the hide of a large Owlbat as a covering. From there she added a wooden chest and other accessories that really completed the savage look of a Foreman’s abode. Then, with a flash of Aetheric light, the bed had an occupant. Dug shuffled forward as the Git sat up, his Sub-Administrator privileges burning across his irises like fire.
Gitboss Foreman - F(3) [Boss]*
Psuedo-Class: Mine Bossa
Dug grunted, half in celebration and half in surprise. He could feel the bloodline on the Gitboss and it was distinctly more goblin-like in nature than the other Rank F(3)s around it. It wasn’t any more pure but it had a quality to it that the others lacked. He wouldn’t be surprised if Obu was able to reach the next tier of gobbo kind when she herself reached the next Rank, whenever that was.
As for Obu, he could feel her excitement through the bond and he knew where it was pointed. Her boss had a Pseudo-class and even though Dug only knew so much even he was aware of just how much of a difference classes made to those who got them. Having spent the last day or so teaching Razum what he could, he knew that power could be found in the System’s Skills but Classes seemed to offer something more. Regardless, his daughter was happy, and therefore, so was Dug.
“Dis beez nice! Anyting Isa can do tah ‘elp?”