Master of the Hoard - Chapter 10 (Patreon)

The next few days went by in a haze. I spent most of the time discussing building plans with Aelis, but also taught Arthor the basics of the Mohs scale - a practical scale that allows you to test the hardness of a mineral by seeing the hardest common mineral it can scratch and the softest mineral which can scratch it. Knowing the values of a handful of typical minerals along with knowing where common crafted items fell on the scale, you'd be able to determine the quality of your material swiftly, if not 100% correctly.

Arthor immediately saw the utility of it, and spent a while collecting and identifying materials to use in our impromptu test. Obviously, he knew the differences between materials by heart already, but having an easy method for testing was something different. To my lack of surprise, finding the exact minerals on the scale was impossible - he'd never heard of the names, though he did recognize some of those I was able to describe. Still, a search turned up a few relics that'd been looted elsewhere, like an old copper dagger, an iron belt buckle, a painted glass shard from God knows where and a piece of 'sky rock' which was undeniably quartz. Testing out his new, increased powers in what he deemed 'a monumental effort, worthy of legends' our shaman was able to create a spear head with a hardness just below iron, which to me was an amazing start. I asked him to start working on creating spear heads for all fighters and he immediately agreed. When we returned, I intended to start in on some real experimentation, but for now, slightly better weapons would do.

I also asked around to find the two biggest, toughest builders of the tribe and bestowed the Builder profession upon them. From now on, things were going to get done a whole lot faster around here. At least that was part of my master plan. Heh.

Noon found me with the foraging group marching away from the base. I'd activated construction on the Shadow Door in the morning when I finally regained enough mana and we waited to see the result before we left. The door itself was nothing special to look at, but the moment you activated the enchantment, the whole thing faded into an exact continuation of the rest of the hallway. If I stared directly at the result, a certain shimmering haze gave away the secret, but a quick once-over gave away nothing. It was even harder for those with low Mental Control attributes - without touching, they couldn't see any hints at all. Fortunately, however, the mana requirement for activating the door was low enough that every Talpus could perform the honors.

The start of our trip was uneventful. We had just reached one of the usual haunts of the Talpi and they were busy scraping a nasty-looking substance off the cave wall. Aelis indulged my curiosity, as we waited and once again, I marveled at my luck at meeting my furry would-be killers.

She gestured as she explained, short precise movements. "Yes, Milord. We do visit these places on occasion. However, they are well-visited by other omnivores and it is a risk, when we have no safe places to retreat to."

"Had, Aelis, had. From now on, even if you manage to stir up some trouble, you will be able to flee back here." I reassured her. "It looks like you're not taking a lot of those...whatever that is?"

She gestured at the growth. "Talon rot. It is a form of mold. The taste is horrible, but it is very filling. And yes, we limit our harvest this time around. Until we know for certain that we are able to grow it elsewhere, we should not take everything with us and staunch the growth."

"Good thinking. Where to next?"

She glanced at me. "That depends, to a large degree upon you, sire. Spending the next few days inside these tunnels will ensure that we encounter something, but we cannot be certain that it will be edible. Excepting the larger groups, predators and prey, much like ourselves, know to keep on the move. In this we don’t know what we’ll come across."

"So, if we want to be sure what we're going for, we need to attack one of the larger groups?"

"That, or leave our luck in the paws of the Spirit."

Someday I was going to have to know more about this Spirit thing. Maybe it was just the same as this Deyra? My claws clicked on the cave floor as I contemplated our next move. "So, remind me again, Aelis. Clenchers, Dweelers, Earth Furies, Tainted Shamblers and those Fire lizards. These are the choices, right?"

"These are the ones we know of. In the past, when we had our own place and were a stronger tribe, we were sometimes able to push back our enemies. That ensured we had enough breathing room to grow and breed. At least, that is what Arthor tells us from our histories. We would need to find our abandoned homes to learn more. Even Arthor does not know the full story of what happened two generations back. "

Heh. Lotta words for 'yes'. "Alright. If we’re to get you back to your former glory, I'm afraid we'll have to take some chances, Aelis. First off, we'll need to harvest all the edible vegetation we find - every single morsel. We'll need them. Second," I took a deep breath, "we're going to war with the Clenchers."

I was slowly learning to decipher Talpus physiology and mannerisms. Well, or at least those of Aelis. The combination of observing her and feeling out her emotions was a wonderful aid in getting to know what her expressions meant. Right this moment, her feet twitched to match the uncertainty wafting from her. "Are you certain, Sire?"

"I am. It might seem reckless, but we need to grow fast - otherwise we will find ourselves swallowed by stronger dragons soon." I'd chewed it over endlessly and discussed it with Aelis. I came up with the same conclusion every time. There was a reason a new dragon clutch would always end in strife. Establishing and growing your domain meant expanding your borders. It also meant being able to detect other domains.  At some point your borders would inevitably touch upon those of your brethren or your minions would chance upon him. At that point, if you were weaker than him, the only logical expansion for him was to invade your dungeon and slay you and your minions for great experience and Mana Crystals. The only surefire way to ensure your safety would be to grow faster than the rest - and that meant power. In this case, power translated to experience and food. "I'll guarantee you this, Aelis. Illusions or not, if we don't prepare fast, we'll be overrun sooner rather than later."

"But there are many Clenchers, Sire. We don't know exactly how many, but more than ten."

"It took just one of them to almost kill you." She didn't say it, but then again she didn't need to. Doubt wafted off of her like rancid perfume.

"We will do our best to not attack them all at a time. And we're not going to take on the main group right away - you did say there were usually stragglers roaming around the area, right? Let's try to take on a single target first, see how it goes and take it from there. Oh, and I have plenty of other suggestions that need your opinion. Tell me about the levels of our group..."

We talked for several hours and Aelis slowly started to come round to my ideas. En route, we started sharing the plans with the rest of the mole group and started going into specifics. Apparently, most of the Talpi were between levels five and eight and pretty young. This was not uncommon. High-level and old Talpi were both a rarity in the mountain. This put the level that Aelis had gained the other day into perspective and gave me another idea. On my insistence, everybody in the group gathered throwing weapons - even the non-combatants. The only thing we needed after that was a good hunting ground - and the right prey.

Walking with the Talpi was a learning experience. The scouts were all business, keeping our fronts and backs secured, often ranging far from our group. The rest of us were more relaxed, and I could tell my presence didn’t hurt either. After the first awkward conversation starters, it seemed like the Talpi thawed up some, and I was able to learn a lot about the Scoured Mountain.

For instance, I learned that the almost barren nature of the tunnels was not a given. We were at the very corner of the mountain, pushed to where no one else wanted to stay.

I also learned that I really wasn’t a fan of having wings. I mean, in theory, they were awesome, but I was inside a goddamn mountain. Prime takeoff-spots were at a premium here. Add to that how the Talpi were used to taking the smaller tunnels, and they often led to cramped confines for me. On top of that, I decided they didn’t add much to my combat thus far.. Damn things.

Later that day found us at the perfect spot. A twenty minutes walk from the Clenchers' main lair, according to the main scout. Signs of the Clencher's presence had been on the rise for a while and it was starting to become obvious enough that I even noted a few things. A faded footprint in the dirt. A whiff of their stink - rank, sour and recognizable. The tunnel we were following followed a rare straight path for several hundred feet and even widened enough that I'd be able to turn comfortably. "This'll do for me, Aelis. Are you sure that you're comfortable with the next part?"

She gave a curt nod. "Clenchers are slow. We will be able to keep our distance. The challenge had always been in escaping or defeating them."

"Killing is my task. You guys just remember to give me a warning before you arrive."

"Of course, Sire. We will only send out two hunters right away until you deem that we are comfortable with our setup." With that final comment, she turned on her heels to find the other hunters and set the wheels in motion.

I've never been in the military. Still, the phrase 'hurry up and wait' has not escaped my attention as in a way it suited the moment. We'd traveled as quickly as possible to avoid unwanted attention and now we were stuck waiting around until our hunters returned.  Tiny secret? I used to not mind waiting in my old life. I kept trying to listen for any cries, roars or similar with nothing to show. Half an hour later, I couldn’t stand it anymore. My survival would soon be on the line and I couldn’t afford to sit around twiddling my thumbs, well claws. Everybody was rather high strung, seeing as how this was a far cry from their regular methods of attack. The jittery shaman apprentice snapped at me when I walked over to ask her some technical questions.

Suddenly, however, the peace was over. A shrill whistle came from down the corridor and I started running toward them. A moment later I was passed by the lookout, running for all he was worth. In the distance, taking the turn into our tunnel was one of the two hunters. As soon as he spotted me, he increased his speed and flew right by me. Determination and fear wafted from him in equal portions - now everything was up to me.

This Clencher was a large one. As it turned the corner and spotted me, I had to fight down dual compulsions. My own mind had a natural sense of revulsion at the appearance of the hairless beast. Meanwhile, the dragon part of me wanted to close with the challenger and tear it limb from limb. I ignored both impulses, focusing on the distance between us.

The second the ungainly beast lumbered past the mark on the wall, I exhaled, blending a part of my own essence into the air I expelled. It had taken a number of practice tries to get right, but now that practice paid off. A gaseous cloud burst forth from my mouth at speed, filling the corridor before me as I unleashed my breath weapon on a living being for the very first time.

I didn’t wait to see the effect on the Clencher. Instead, I turned on my claws and retreated down the corridor, counting as I went. 18. 19. 20. There – the second mark. A glance over my shoulder confirmed that the beast wasn’t on top of me. I turned around only long enough to expel another cloud of shadowy death, before continuing my sprint down the tunnel. A howl followed my rapid strides.

At the next mark I turned around again. A toothy grin filled my face as I noted the pink-skinned monstrosity fighting toward me. “Not so impressive now, are we?” I grinned. The Clencher’s strides had shortened and were uneven and halting and the ugly thing was panting with exertion. It might have just been my imagination talking, but I felt sure I spotted a look of frustration on its snarling face. With what felt like all the time in the world, I prepared to call the Talpi and engage the next step – but was interrupted by a shrill whistling sound ranging down the tunnel. Shit! Double shit! Another damn Clencher. Why can’t things go the way I plan them?

A frustrated roar escaped me. So goddamn close. “Prepare to shoot!” The mental shout rang down the tunnel to where the Talpi were waiting in force and I let loose a third breath attack. This time, I gave myself a second to watch the results. The cloud expanded before me, turning everything grey like a foggy morning. Most of it landed on soil, where it faded away in moments, but where the grey-black substance hit the Clencher’s skin, it seeped in and disappeared as if it’d never existed. Only the animal’s roar evidenced otherwise – and this time, the roar held pain along with fury.

My long strides led me down to the group and I slid to the side, making sure they had a clear view of the Clencher. A shrill command from Aelis and the corridor filled with weapons as the Talpi unleashed every weapon and rock they had at the beleaguered beast. Another yell and it was time for me to go on the offensive. With another Clencher incoming, we had no time for subtleties and I sprang right into action. Two massive bounds to gain speed and I leapt, straight for the beast. Last time I had faced off with a Clencher, we had been equals in strength. This time, however, I'd figured out a way to deal with it. Its hairless forelegs were slow as they flew up to greet me and I batted them aside with ease. The claws of my left paw pierced the head from below, dragging it upwards and outwards. With its neck exposed, I went to work. One, two, three quick strikes, each digging deeper into the neck as the blood spattered from the horrible wound. At the fourth strike, I felt its feet giving out and immediately dropped the beast, springing forward towards the next enemy.

Crap. It's almost halfway down down the corridor. I cursed my luck. This time, I couldn't rely on the markings. That'd only leave time for a single breath attack, maybe two, before we were back to the Talpi group. My focus on the incoming Clencher was complete and the fleeing scout only registered as a brief reek of panic to my left. In one fluid motion, I hit the brakes, digging in my hind feet to arrest my process and spewed my breath attack toward my enemy. My aim was good and the timing phenomenal. The entire blast hit it full in the face and I could see the beast reeling from the impact. It was still running at full speed, however, and when I finally ground to a stop amidst a cloud of dirt and pebbles, it was almost upon me. I scrabbled to reverse direction and started sprinting. The heavy thumps of the Clencher’s paws hitting the ground and gasping breath told me just how close it was. I shut out every sensation, focusing entirely on my speed.

The welcoming committee was coming closer - way too fast, damnit. If I wanted this to work, I'd have to try something advanced. As I ran, I craned my neck, centered my vision on the Clencher and let out a Deafening Roar. There was no time for me to see the result, because mid-roar my feet decided to betray me, tossing me headlong down the corridor. I stumbled neck over tail, sliding to a halt up against one of the walls. Twisting and turning, I managed to get to my feet, only to spot the Clencher stunned and downed, right there before me. Talk about cutting it close. I unleashed another breath attack, straight in its face and turned to flee again as it slowly started to move again - only to realize that there was nowhere to run. The Talpi were standing just fifty feet away, shock clearly on their faces. "Screw this," I thought and placed myself on top of the Clencher, gripping its forelegs and pinning them down with my full weight. “Jazinth, get ready.” This put me way too close to the beast’s ugly mug, but it was the best I could come up with. Just then, awareness returned to the animal’s eyes, and I was submitted to the rodeo of a lifetime. My face and neck were sprinkled with slobber from the roaring mouth as I strained to keep it at a distance. The legs bucked as it struggled to throw me off or gain a better foothold. Still, despite all its efforts, the debuffs had weakened the monster enough that I managed to keep it under control. I was then able to direct another breath attack straight at it, covering the entire body, and it became even easier to hold at bay.

Taking great care to keep the pressure constant, I sent a quick message. “Now, Jazinth.”

The tiny apprentice looked like she was ready to flee, but obeyed. She knelt at a safe distance from the massive lump of a beast and closed her eyes. Seconds later, I could feel my balance shifting. Craning my neck, I marveled at the sight of the dirt floor of the tunnel slowly receding under the Clencher’s body, dragging its bulk downward with it. At the sensation, the beleaguered animal made a final attempt to escape, squirming and whining, but I kept my deathlike hold on the animal. Slowly, I could retract my deathlike grip on its body and step back. The Clencher continued sinking downwards until the floor was level with its ankles and it sealed around it, leaving the big beast completely trapped.

Aelis walked up from behind, eyes wide. “I cannot believe that worked.”

Jazinth jumped at the sound. She rubbed her paws against each other, grinning weakly. “I… have never faced a Clencher down before.” She closed her eyes briefly before continuing, more confident, “I like it. And I know my soil. There will be no escaping until we slay it.”

“Very well done – all of you.” I turned to address the rest of the Talpi who were holding back, oozing a mixture of awe and trepidation. “This could easily have gone a lot worse. If Jazinth had panicked, one of our scouts had failed to give warning in time or our preparations had been flawed, I might have been the one bleeding out back there.” That sobered them up right quick. "You persevered, however. Did any of you gain a level?" Two of the Talpi raised a paw - a digger and a hunter. "So this is exactly what I intend for us. The future doesn't look boring for us - odds are we'll be mired in strife and battle often. I do not intend for us to go into those battles unprepared, however, and that is why I intend to share everything - the risks and the rewards both." I caught more than one avaricious gleam from their eyes and from the emotions pouring forth, I already knew the answer to my next question. Still, it felt good asking it: "So, I say we go out there and gain some additional levels. Who's with me?"

The squealing cries and yells that followed would not be deemed impressive by any mercenary bands, but it felt good. Knowing that I had gained at least part of their confidence was a great thing. Their involvement paid off right away. When I asked for suggestions to improve upon the current plan, a few people volunteered their ideas. A fallback position around the corner. Placing the first lookout further away. An additional lookout, well-hidden to ensure that we'd have proper warning if we were about to be double-booked the next time around, again. We adopted all suggestions right away and then went to work decimating the local population of Clenchers.

Approaching midnight, we were enjoying a well-earned break. The side of the tunnel held four subdued Clenchers. Two males, two females. None of them were the worse for wear, but judging from the growls, they were well and truly pissed. Understandably. Jazinth was off to the side, beaming with satisfaction even as she paced back and forth, filled with nervous energy. We'd been forced to kill off three additional Clenchers which had gained her levels 7 and 8 today. Even Aelis, calm as always, was feeling triumphant.

"Milord. I must admit, seeing these beasts reduced to mere ornamental statues entails a level of satisfaction I had never thought to imagine."

"Yeah, we've done good today. And things will get even better when we manage to get these big bastards home and breed them for meat. There will be Clencher steaks for everybody!"

A few hours later, most of the Talpi were asleep, when a scout returned at a run. They had been constantly circling and returning to us, keeping us informed as to what was moving out there. Still panting from the exertion, he started to talk with Aelis right away without any preamble. I interrupted with a mental message. "Let us talk without words - I've yet to learn your language."

The panting runner recovered quickly and fell to his knees. "Sorry, Sire. Not used to this sort of thing. Aelis, Milord, I wanted to tell you that I've finished the run on the eastern side of the Clencher camp. I think we've finished all loners now. I got pretty close to the camp too. Nobody knows what's going on - the camp's calm as a lake."

I could feel my hopes stirring at his words. "The other hunter - what was her name again? She said the western side was taken care of too, right?"

The emotion spilling from Aelis was pride and... was that regret? Getting to be a bit bloodthirsty, eh? "Yes, Sire. There will be no further solitary creatures for us to hunt. Still, this is an unparalleled victory for us. Arthor will be thrilled to include it in the history of our tribe."

"About that. I've been thinking. As victories go, it's a bit underwhelming, isn't it? 'We snuck in and took out a number of their stragglers before we ran away again.' Call me old-fashioned, but I prefer finishing a job once I've started."

"Sire, you cannot mean..."

"Oh yes I can." I relented, "Don't get me wrong though. I'm not saying we should take them head on or anything. I'm just suggesting that we take a look around, see if there's anything we can work with. Do you think any of your hunters would be up for that?"