NKETJDI
There are rules about offering aid to those currently in the process of integration. There never had been a need for rules regarding accepting the help from those who were in the process of becoming full members of Solidarity and Nketjdi hated becoming a precedent case for it. Accepting help might be a one off thing, but there were enough ways for it to go wrong, to be understood as transactional or to be understood as bearing a hidden agenda. Especially with the creature from a different world. It understood the scorpions and spiders of this planet and their distinct cultures. It understood very little about the alien integratees. And in this dungeon, it had no easy communication to other points of contact. Like Krilk. So it realised that it had to play by ear. As it was carried to the island by the human, it was unsure what would happen. Then, it was put on the ground. Again, one of the scorpions, most likely Nourishes-and-Cares used the Healing skill on it. “Thanks. Appreciated,” it said.
The human-of-Tsanh asked: “Are you alright? Will integration of the planet into Solidarity proceed as normal?”
Nketjdi bristled. It didn’t expect this question. “Specify. What makes you think this?”
The human responded: “You are the only creature that is rotation-symmetric in three dimensions. This evolution seems to have originated in water, but that is in sparse supply on this planet. So I assumed that you were a dropbear. But the fact that you are not the integrationist of Unlimited Potential so I assume that you are of Solidarity.”
It chirped in confusion: “Unlimited Potential being other system?”
The instance agreed: “It is indeed.”
It paused for a moment, then clicked: “You saved me because you wanted to ensure integration?”
The human shook her head: “I did not. I just… couldn’t let you die. Especially after you climbed onto and hit that Vanguard ”
It made a clicking sound. It had not imagined that this creature deemed itself already beholden to chains of reciprocity. “I understand. I didn’t expect or require you to compensate for actions I did to save my life.”
The person responded: “It’s a dungeon. You’re in my party. It’s the right thing to do. Now let’s look at the rewards.”
It asked: “Rewards?”
She explained: “Dungeons come with rewards. That’s why people go there to fight monsters. Well that and to level up.” She walked to the new rectangular box and opened it. She produced items: “This is a khopesh, which is a kind of sword, so, to attack monsters. And this is a helmet, so, it’s for protecting heads. This seems to be for you, a set of climbing spikes, made for your anatomy.” She handed it the set of spikes which Nketjdi put onto its appendages. “They also do some damage, I guess. You can investigate them with a system function. I mean, a function of the other system, not Solidarity. Did I mention how it works?”
SHIVERS-IN-SUNLIGHT
The fact that the items actually had to be distributed was frustrating to Shivers. Skips explained that these items would be linked, or as she said, attuned to the user or they could not be used. Shivers felt a sense of revulsion about something like that, to xir, an item that could not be shared was worth far less than one that could be. Eventually, everyone decided on an item. In the case of Shivers, it was a ring for xir stinger that conveyed resistance to spell damage. Xe put it on and immediately, a message of Unlimited Potential appeared:
Do you want to attune to the Ring of Stability? Cost: 30 Lira
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“What are Liras?” Shivers asks in confusion.
“Lira refers to the currency used by the black system.” Skips explained, then asked: “How much does it ask for?”
“Thirty,” Shivers explained.
Skips checked the amount of metal disks, coins was the name, that she had collected. She sucked in air: “That’s so typical. The dungeon doesn’t give everyone enough to attune their item. At least if the amounts don’t change between items. Do they?”
“They don’t,” the group confirmed.
Skips nodded and asked: “I suggest we give 30 for Nketjdi, as they seem less like the kind of creature that is going to remain part of the group. Apart from that, 3 people can afford attuning, so we should choose randomly. The rest of the coins go to the village, to be thought about later. Anyone in favour?”
Shivers agreed and so did the rest of the group, including, after a moment's pause, Nketjdi.
Skips smiled: “That’s good. Now, here are your coins, Nketjdi.” She handed some coins to the creature. Moments later, the spikes glowed and seemed to meld to the creature, then to disappear. “You found out how to put the item into inventory, neat! Yes, attuned items can be moved into the inventory at a moment’s notice.”
Shivers then put the names of the rest of the group into a list and asked Solidarity to randomly select three of them. He showed the selection including the query to the group. Xir name was not on it. “I felt it was inappropriate since I ran the selection.”
Skips, seeing her name on the list, said: “Please take my Lira. The Ring of Stability is awesome and I want you to be able to use it.”
Shivers wanted to complain and to reject this, but Nourishes said: “No, take it. Skips is swift and by now skips at least 15 steps with the synergy of the different systems. I can see how your resistance is important.”
Skips agreed: “The spear of re-emergence is nice, but it is not as important. I can throw regular spears, you cannot really rig the same protection by normal means. And should I desperately need it, like desperately, I can run a dungeon that is less of a challenge myself.”
Shivers slowly agreed to do so, took the coins and attuned to the ring. It felt strange. The ring started feeling somewhat warm, and xir stinger felt slightly twitchy. Then, this feeling passed. Xe felt a weird feeling on xir exoskeleton, it was reminiscent of the feeling xe had when xe had been in a sandstorm and now a thin layer of fine sand was covering xir body.
A short time later, they stepped out of the dungeon via the newly appeared portal and appeared in the desert again. Xe received black as well as red messages about skill increases and the advancement to level 6.
Xe ignored these and instead looked at Nketjdi. “You are the one who helps the integration into Solidarity? I thought it was already done, I mean, before the foreigners, we all were in Solidarity.”
The spikeball moved in geometrically unintuitive ways and responded: “Your settlement is level 9 and highest. Threshold for completion: highest: 2048. Lowest: 1536. Threshold not reached.”
Xe’s eyes widened: “I can’t even imagine a skill of level 2048 or even 1536.”
The spiky thing agreed: “Yes. Gradual approach required. Time required.” It paused for a moment and then said: “Now departing imminently.” It then burrowed into the ground.
Skips looked at Shivers and gulped: “So, we still have to gain more than 1500 levels in our skills. Sounds like one heck of a challenge.”
Shivers confirmed: “I have no idea how this is even feasible. For anyone. I feel demotivated to even try…”
Skips shook her head: “Don’t be. I assume that this is not a goal our generation can reach.”
Burrows-In-Case-of-Trouble, one of the members of the group asked: “What makes you think that?” His tone was about as offended as Shivers felt.
“Population generally helps with specialisation and gaining a higher level of knowledge. And compared to earth, Tsanh is very empty.”
The group understood now that this was not an insult to their planet and their gestures and posture lost their hostility and instead gained some resignation.
Soon, they returned to the village and they were unhappy. The barriers had partly been breached and tents were destroyed. Some Scorpions-of-Tsanh were injured but had been treated. Shivers looked at the shreds of xir tent and then asked skips if she was okay to burrow with xir family. She agreed and soon they fell asleep together.