Worthy Core

"I must admit, I'm rather confused about one thing." Lady Gilda Highbranch attempts to keep her tone light, despite the fact that she's surrounded by a dozen armed soldiers. While her hands are unbound, the same can't be said for Sweet, who follows behind with several pounds of chains wrapped around various parts of her body. For her part, Emissary Cerise Darktouched responds in quite the same manner as her 'guest'.

"Oh? And what might that be, my lady?"

Gilda gestures around at the walls of the Grassbrook fort. They're largely intact, although sections of them have taken noticeable fire damage, and a few places have been blasted apart, perhaps by earth magic. That and the occasional bloodstain are all that indicate the battle that took place here the previous night. "You're using the garrison fort as your prisoner camp? Would you not rather be focusing on using it for your own troops, now that you've taken it?"

Cerise smiles as she replies. "Well, I admit I'm no military strategist myself. But as I understand it - we simply don't need it as a military base of operations. In fact, our plans accounted for the possibility that we'd need to raze it down to the bedrock - and Grassbrook itself as well, although we certainly hoped to avoid that. However, it does make for a good place to locate prisoners, at least until we can spare the effort to transport people back south to a more secure location. A wall that keeps people out can also keep people in. Also, it wouldn't do to keep a lady of your stature in a simple tent, and the officers quarters here are more suitable than attempting to turn one of the Grassbrook taverns into a prison."

"I'm glad you're taking my comfort into such account." The half-elf tries not to let too much sarcasm show in her voice. She is, to be honest, admittedly somewhat relieved that she's not going to be spending the next week tied to a stake or immediately spirited away to a distant dungeon. A dungeon of either variety, really. "Speaking of prisoners, might I ask..."

"How many Rainlander soldiers we have imprisoned here?" The demon guiding her through the fort nods. "We may not have a full accounting of those who died in the forest, or fled, but of those who stayed and defended the walls casualties were...relatively light, considering. My understanding is that perhaps a quarter died and another quarter were injured, but that the fort surrendered with half of the garrison still on their feet."

"So many?" Gilda frowns. "Not that I was expecting a fight to the last, but surely they could have held out longer, I would think."

"Had they been fighting opponents of equal strength, I imagine they would have. Most of your garrison forces however were merely Initiate or Advanced-tier. Not surprising, really, those do make up the bulk of most armies. But we would have been foolish to send Initiates of our own to attack defended walls. The lighter units were focused on Grassbrook, while our stronger forces came here. In particular, I believe a giant frog from one of our dungeons was actually key to breaking the defense. It simply leapt over the walls and...well, they say its battle tactics are rather gruesome. It was slain, but it did its work."

"I see." The noblewoman's spirits droop a little to consider that the scouts her retainers had destroyed so easily the night before had merely been secondary forces, but it's not so surprising. She does look around, but there seems to be no sign of a giant dead frog to be seen. Had it simply faded away after it was killed?

The escort halts as they reach one of the structures near the center of the fort - not the main offices itself, but nearby. "Here we are at the officer's quarters, my lady. Room three has been reserved and prepared for your use, you're free to move about the building but we...request that you do not leave without an escort. Should any medical issues arise, an escort will take you to the fort's medical facility if required."

"I see. And Sweet?"

Cerise turns to examine the towering plains gnoll, and does her best to keep her expression even. "I'm afraid we'll be keeping her with the common soldiery, my lady. They're being kept in buildings with...more secure amenities. The guards here will be happy to assist you if required, of course."

"Of course." Gilda glances at the two demons guarding the door - a pair of muscular incubi, if she's not mistaken. She's...fairly certain Cerise was only talking about standard service requests, but somehow she doubts the demon soldiers would put up much resistance if she asked for something more exotic. Not that she has any plans for that, of course. At least they seem well-disciplined, and the noblewoman doesn't feel too much concern for her safety under their watchful eyes. Her concern for her bodyguard meanwhile is somewhat greater, ironically. Turning to Sweet, she steps as close as the guards will allow.

"Keep safe, won't you, Sweet? Please don't cause any...trouble for our hosts."

Some of the guards had jokingly suggested fitting the guardian with a muzzle, but for now at least the woman is free to respond unhindered. "As you say, my lady. Of course, should your safety be at risk..."

"Her safety is secured by my word, enforced by the Dragonlord themselves." Cerise emphasizes the point for clarity, not that she suspects there will actually be any trouble. "It is my true hope that everyone in this fort will live to see the end of the war, no worse for wear than they already are."

"I'll hold you to that. I suppose this is our parting for now, Sweet, but I'll see about talking to you again soon, yes?"

"I look forward to it, my lady."

With that said Sweet is led elsewhere, and the guards open the door and step inside to allow Gilda to enter. The building has something of a common area with individual rooms set aside for apartments, but the only individual inside who comes to meet her is one Gilda knows well. The commander of the fort looks rather different without his armor, and for once even Paulados's mustache seems a little mussed.

"My lady! I'm glad to see you weren't harmed in the fighting! Was it bad in the town?"

The two clasp hands before taking seats around a small table. "We actually surrendered before it came to a fight - the threat of the Dragonlord paying a personal visit saw to that, I'm afraid. How about here in the fort? Was it...bad?"

The man sighs. "Poor Harniel, my chief of staff, lost a leg I'm afraid, though only below the knee. Fortunately our best healer was there to save his life, and I understand he'll be joining us here soon enough. As you say, the threat of force they had to offer was somewhat overwhelming for our defenses. For now, all we can do is heal and recover, and hope for rescue."

Gilda gives a thin-lipped smile. "I suppose all we can do is hope..."

---

This time when Xenia requests an invitation to Kahlia's garden, there's no delay on her arrival. The transition is actually slightly jarring for the dungeon master - although the sun had been beginning to dim back on the mountain, it seems that in this pocket realm Kahlia had brought her to a midday time zone. As usual the weather is perfect, and Kahlia is awaiting her guest on her throne. "Xenia, good to see you. I hope everything is well enough back home? Considering the circumstances, at least."

"Small talk, eh?" Xenia chuckles to herself. "I assume you've got at least the basic idea of what's going on, yeah? I mean, you sent a message to Mother Hammerdown about the invasion."

The goddess nods. "I am not omniscient, but I do have the ability to scry the world, and my vision of events near places devoted to me - such as the Grassbrook temple or your dungeon - are clearer in my eyes. I can see that your dungeon is rather busy right now, while the Church of Bounty compound in Grassbrook has been emptied, save for a recent visit by Domain scouts."

"Hrmm. Don't suppose you've got any insight on their military schemes by any chance?"

"I'm afraid not. The war gods do tend to have a better idea of such things, but even if you have one of their clerics among your Challengers, those gods tend to favor the aggressors. Where would they be if no one ever started any wars, after all?" Kahlia tilts her head and smirks. "But I imagine you didn't come here to ask for military intelligence."

The reincarnator sighs. "I know what you're getting at, but I do have other stuff to ask first. For starters - why send Hammerdown and her people to me? I can use every hand, but is that really what was best for them? They're not soldiers."

"Well, I had a few reasons. One is that having the Bountiful Mother there does increase my connection to the place, which will be most useful should any rituals of mine be required. Also, I do wish to see my paladins aiding in your defense. But I suppose primarily this concerns the Dungeon Fuckers."

Xenia blinks at that statement. "Eh? What about them?"

The goddess waves a hand. "As I'm sure you know, they are on the path to Paragonhood. But one must understand, investing that much power into a mortal, let alone several of them, is not at all free for us divinities. That power must be repaid with service, and it must be paid only to those who truly deserve it. Those who have been tested."

Furrowing her brow, Xenia considers that for a moment. "I thought you were mostly about having a bunch of kids, though? Combat being more for some of the other guys in the pantheon?"

"Often, yes. But I have invested a great deal of my concern in you, Reincarnator Extraordinaire." Kahlia's face grows stern. "I could not bear it to see some of my supposed 'champions' turn their backs and run when you and your dungeon are in danger. It puts them at risk, yes. Such is the life of a Paragon-aspirant."

"Well...I suppose they did sign up for it all. And I'm not gonna tell you how to run your business." Xenia stretches out a hand and a green orb flecked with gold appears in her palm. "So lets move on to a more urgent matter, yeah?"

The goddess leans forward, a hunger in her eyes. "You've considered my offer?"

Xenia nods. "Yeah, but I still have some questions. It's just..." She pauses while she attempts to explain her thinking. "A guardian of some sort with some kind of dungeon-powers could make a huge difference in the fight that's coming. If they have their memories then that's a bonus, since odds are they've got a grudge of some sort with the Dragonlord, too. But the timing sucks."

"Something many pregnant mothers have said."

"Yeah, well, I'm on a clock." Xenia grimaces. "You said you didn't know how long it would take to...incubate this lil guy or girl. But I don't think I have that much time. Weeks, maybe. A month if the Dragonlord plays things real cautious. I don't think I'm getting nine unless some sort of miracle happens and draws them elsewhere for a good long while. So can I get some sort of general estimate? If we...go through with this, do you think it'll make a difference with what's going on right now?"

Kahlia doesn't respond right away, apparently thinking. "...As you know, I have the power to accelerate pregnancies. And to ease childbirth. There is a safe limit, but I do not believe this would take you nine months even normally. If I push this power to the limit, yes, I think you could complete your pregnancy in time. Of course, it's up to you to see to it that your defenses play their role in buying you that time."

"That's something, at least. But what about after they're born? A baby's not going to be real useful - in fact, I'd be kind of a dick if I did bring a baby into all of that. Am I fucked up to even be considering this?"

The goddess laughs. "They'll be a young dungeon, Xenia, or something like it. Hardly a normal mortal. Keep in mind, even newborn baby dungeons kill for a living. And I do not believe this one will be quite so fresh. Confused, ignorant, perhaps. But not helpless."

Xenia swallows before answering. "...Guess I can't afford not to consider your offer, then. The Dragonlord...they offered this dungeon core to me to eat, to gain its skills and mana or whatever. They wouldn't have done that if they thought that would be enough. Enough to change the outcome, enough to beat them in a fight. But a conscious guardian? It's something they won't be expecting. And I need every ace up my sleeve I can get. And...I need them as soon as fuckin' possible. So..."

Kahlia smiles. "Your schedule for the evening is free, I assume?"

"As free as it's ever gonna get. Uh...you?"

"Oh, I have been preparing for this for a bit now. Come, let me show you what I have in store..."