What to do. Launching an assault on whatever was out there seemed the opposite of the calm I had spent the whole day cultivating so hiding was the best first step. The Core itself couldn't move but maybe floating orbs are just a natural thing in this world where magic and monsters were a real thing. In moments my monsters had vanished from sight leaving my Core chamber quite and dark with the only movement being the swirling cloud that spanned the floor hypnotically rotating in a broad lazy spiral.
Something was approaching and the dire hare definitely wanted to challenge it in some way but that seemed mechanical and automatic from the feel of their emotions I got through my domain. They would have the same response to anything invading my territory be it a raging ogre or a curious squirrel. Which is understandable since their continued existence is bound to my own. At least I have veto power over whatever they are about to do which will come in handy if I ever wanted to invite the neighbors over for tea at some point.
A flickering glow expanded outward from deeper in the tunnel the first evidence noticeable to my own personal set of senses. It wavered and wobbled which suggested that the light source was some sort of flame possibly a torch. Then those ponderings were confirmed as the intruder came into full view.
It held a torch up over its smooth bald head in an upraised stubby thin arm. Its other arm held what looked like a primitive stone hammer held low and out of the way of its equally stubby pair of legs. Across its shoulders sat a spongy poncho made of some sort of grey-green moss that even though loosely fit it didn't hide the creatures potbelly. As it got closer I could see the wide wet very green eyes and very wide thin lipped mouth. All in all it looked like a chubby meter tall thumb with arms and legs. Although it stood as tall as my dire hare they were quadrupedal and built like rottweilers while this guy looked kind of like a paleolithic Pillsbury dough boy.
Clack clic!
The bits of gravel worked at least which was good to know in case something managed to avoid my and my hares notice but as it was it left a lot to be desired in an alarm system. At least the thing paid it no mind and didn't become more cautious or go on guard. At least not until it reached the outer edge of my Core chamber. It paused and squinted holding its torch out farther and its eyes somehow got wider as the light reflected off of the outermost edge of my personal cloud bank. It entered my chamber and along with it came something I could not see. Something that wasn't physical. Another Domain.
Invader Arrived! Live and don't Die! Kill to become
At the same time I used my domain against the creature and was able to pull up a similar window that I had for my own monsters that had an extra bit of info than my own did.
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Dominion Luci_=^*ntssSs Tier 1 Monster species Vitapygmy Level 2 Mana Type Life, Soul Skills Regeneration, Over healing
That Dominion line had flavor akin to the glitchyness of when I pinned templates up that didn't represent actual monsters I controlled. The rest of its stat block was a little disconcerting since it had a higher level then my monsters and its skills seemed to be really focused around healing. That and both its mana types were very likely higher on the concept list then the one I had. It wasn't time to panic though. Calm down, watch what it does first, and then act.
The Vitapygmy didn't seem to react negatively to entering my Domain. In fact it seemed to be the opposite as it waddled into the edge of my swirling storm. It put down its hammer and reached down with its free hand to grab a hand full of cloud then preceded to try and eat it.
"Pah!" It made a breathy pop sound with its lips and reached for another hand full. By the third one it seemed to realize that it none of the cloud wasn't solid enough to actually reach its mouth but after a bit of tapping its foot it seemed to decide that it was fun enough just chasing the clouds around. Until the inevitable happened. "Wooopah!"
It found one of the pit traps with a wet splish. I wonder if this is why it was illegal to booby trap ones home back before I was an orb.
Our now damp friend scrambled its way out of the small pit holding its now extinguished torch over its head. It panned around trying to orient itself in the dark and on its second pass froze in place having spotted the now brightest light source in the domed chamber. Its pupils dilated to an extreme and its smooth brow furrowed giving its face the appearance of a very angry Muppet. Scrambling back along its path it found its way back to its hammer mainly through touch. Wheeled back to face my Core raising its hammer over hits head and began to march in, although adorable, an undeniable aggressive manner.
My Core glimmered with a pale luminescence and sat unwavering and imposing. This was its Domain. My Domain. I composed myself and made my presence known. "You trespass in the Domain of Sean McLeod. Your hostile actions will not be tolerated, stop at once."
Almost as if I had planned it the day ticked over.
Mana swirled and compressed around my Core like it had before compressing and selling my storm to fill the room. Another pearl of cloud mana formed beneath my core and dropped into the pool bellow and a pulse of wind blew outward clearing away all but an ankle deep layer of clouds revealing three very agitated Mist-walker Dire Hare baring their tusked grimaces.
"Bagahbah! Mmmba pthhhrp." Once its vision clears and sees the unhappy hare. It lets out what sounds very much like a Vitapygmy expletive and blows a sloppy raspberry at them and me respectively and takes up a fighting stance. Hammer held high and its unlit torch held levelly out in front of itself. The look on its face seeming to say one thing.
Let battle be joined.