It had been many hours since Arc and Kat's awakening. They'd managed to find half a dozen additional minions in the tunnels beneath the giants' town. According to Kat, {Additional Minions still abroad. Yet even if found, will be unable to control.}
It turned out that Pantimus the Perverted and his Pantaloons were indeed slightly bulkier and more reddish than the average, possibly due to their exposure to the surface. The latter had managed to burst a seam during their constant attempts to go in opposite directions, and thus were no longer joined at the hip.
Some of the other minions had undertaken antics of their own.
The first, was found carving a flatish piece of grey stone with a harder rock, but refused to leave his "importantmost rocksies" even after Pantimus insistently shook Kat in front of him. (And by extension, Arc. After this incident, it was decided a temporary transfer of Kat-carrying duties was in order.) Eventually the matter was settled by having the Pantaloons help carry his precious stones. 'Rocky' was a bit taller and greener than usual.
The next minion had been been extremely lucky, and snatched a silk purse containing some silver and even a few gold coins on the surface. He was almost in tears as he 'voluntarily' offered them to Kat, but cheered up when he realized he'd still get to carry them. 'Scrooge' was a bit darker and spindlier than most.
The remainder weren't significantly different than before, and three carried had crude but multipurpose pick-like tools similar to the one Ark used before his awakening. The last had wielded a blunt sword, but Pantimus had immediately beat him up and took it. The one stuck carrying the unconscious body was, of course, Arc. At least he'd managed to push the bread onto one of the miners.
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The tiny caravan wandered the tunnels. It was clear they were not merely sewers, but that some carried potable water instead. Occasionally one got mixed up with the other.
There were others in the tunnels as well. Sounds of things crawling or slithering in the dark just around the corner were common, but only once did one challenge them.
A crawling furred creature with a naked tail and huge incisors snuck up on the rear of the column and attempted to carry off their weakest member. Arc managed to endure his instincts this time and offer some sort of resistance. The beast didn't give up in the face of Arc's shouting and futile kicks; it was, after all, almost as big as two minions put together.
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Panitmus reacted quickly, waving around his sword and brandishing Kat like she was some sort of holy symbol. As for Kat's part, faint red and green lights started to play around the edges of her body. But before Pantimus could reach the scene, Rocky (who had left his burden on the poor Pantaloons) jumped on the beast's back.
He brought his carving rock down on its neck. It was far from a clean kill: the thing didn't cease spasming until its neck was almost completely severed. The lights around Kat were absorbed, again not noticed by anyone who mattered.
The procession halted temporarily to rest... And eat. Pantimus immediately claimed the liver, but uncharacteristically offered to share some with the one who had slain the creature in the first place. The latter was too busy obsessing over the severed head.
Arc observed Rocky carefully hollowing out the skull, not 'wasting' any brain in the process. He kept gnawing the stale bread. He had no intention of participating in the quarrel for the choicest bit of meat. His short teeth were poorly suited for rending uncooked flesh, anyways.
"What a 'lively' bunch..." He muttered. {Minion enthusiasm often in random directions, difficult to focus on one task; but can accomplish things collectively. Vague awareness of master's desires is enough.}
The image of a tiny colonial insect came to mind. Although each individual had only the most basic awareness, effectively wandering at random unless a pheromone trail, piece of food, or predator was within a few body-lengths, together they could perform tasks like hunting and gathering with remarkable efficiency.
But wait. Something Kat said there... "Then does that mean - you actually like being worshipped?" {...Maybe!} Kat giggled, but Arc was dumbstruck. Who would have guessed that the tiny blue pebble he'd found in a stream would turn out to have goddess complex? Well, in a sense she actually was the minions' goddess, but that didn't make it any less surprising.
"Well, I won't be worshipping you." {That's fine. Arc is different. Equal.} "And don't plan on making me your high priest or apostle or anything like that, either." {...Shrine Tender.} The two began bickering nearly as much as the minions.