RD: Chapter Sixteen - No Rest for the Witches

In a blur of color and sound, Dolli respawned next to her cottage at the center of the village. The sun had fallen below the horizon, but the ember glows of the burning zeppelin kept the city in perpetual twilight. Dolli’s exhaustion debuff was pushed back another twenty-four hours from her four hour rest, which passed in the blink of an eye.

She took one deep breath, coughed from the smoke of the fire, then got to work. Nearly every quest she’d given out had been completed, and yet her people hadn’t stopped working. Experience points or no, they had to get the town back in order.

“There you are,” Julie said when she noticed Dolli.

“Anything interesting happen during my slumber?” Dolli asked.

Julie shook her head. “Quiet as the grave.” She chuckled. “The apprentice blacksmiths have repaired much of the fencing, but with our new elevated status, I was thinking…”

“Let’s hear it,” Dolli said with a nod.

“The whole village has risen by fifteen feet. That’s not quite enough to do anything with now, but I’m guessing it’s not done growing.”

Dolli opened the Overlord menu and looked at the Dungeon Path. Sure enough, with ever new level they gained, the dungeon would ascend another increment—which increased over time.

“You’re correct in your assumption.”

“Excellent! My thought is instead of build’n gates and traps all over the city, we could keep it nice, build homes for the folk, and let the heroes run around in the mazes below us. We could dig down, create an openin’ for them. If they wanted to come claim our riches, or your seat, they’ll have to travers the maze of traps. We’d go down and patrol of course, killin’ and stealin’ from ‘em.”

Dolli didn’t close her menu while she listened. Instead, she panned over to the “Roles” section and looked at the last Level 1 role she’d thought useless: Architect.

“Julie, how would you like a role?” Dolli asked, pulling the pin from the ether into her hand.

Julie shrugged. “Never was much for breads, but seein’ as I don’t need to eat anymore.”

Dolli cocked her head and held out the pin.

“Oh! You mean a title!” Julie reached out for the little bit of metal in Dolli’s hand. She inspected it for a moment, then grimaced. “I don’t know if I’m the right person.”

Dolli looked around the village. “You cared for the church all these years, kept it nice.”

“That was different, it’s just one building—and I’m not tellin’ people how to build it, just keepin’ it in good condition.”

Dolli hummed. “You seem to have this grand vision for how to use the space below us. I think you’re not giving yourself enough credit, or opportunity for growth.”

“But, what if I mess up?”

“Of course you will,” Dolli said. “That’s just part of it.”

Julie’s eyes widened. “What if I collapse the whole village!”

Dolli shrugged. “Then we’ll have a lot of quests to fix it back up—more experience for everyone, and the dungeon. But maybe you should practice in an area near the outskirts…”

“Yes, that would be best. Smaller mistakes, small messes.”

[Julie Harken has accepted the role of Architect!]

“You have the power to give out your own quests now related to anything you want to build. There’s starting to be a few people here who can give out quests…” Dolli stroked her chin while she thought. Dolli and anyone else with a role would have needs for resources and assistants, and there were only so many Dungeonfolk—for now. The best way to keep everything running smoothly would have to come from working together.

“I’ll speak with the others, and we can set up a teatime to review our plans, prioritize where we send help, and create a rotation for returning to the Lifewell to prevent exhaustion.”

“I’ll chat about that with Greg on my way out, if you’d like,” Julie said.

“When the sun rises, meet back at the cottage. Thank you, Julie.”

The woman turned Wispelle beamed. “You’re very welcome, Overlord.”

Dolli stopped by Nubiri’s egg before leaving. She put her midnight blue hand on the warm shell, stroking it gently. “You’re safe, little one. Mother will be back soon, but we’re all here to protect you.”

The Wendigo child ran past the cottage, chased by his Wispelle friend. Dolli felt the squeezing pressure of guilt compressing her chest, but then, they giggled. They frolicked and floated, delighting in the abilities of their new forms. It wouldn’t be a normal childhood—not after what they’d seen—but perhaps it could still be a good one. A fulfilled one.

Dolli made a mental note to make sure the children’s mental states were well, and to observe them to ensure they aged. It would be a horrible circumstance to be trapped as a child forever. Dolli still wasn’t certain how any of this Dungeon and Monster stuff worked. They didn’t eat, or sleep, they respawned like heroes, and transformed every ten levels. What if they never grew old? What if they grew old very quickly? If they died of old age, would they respawn?

She felt she had too many questions and too few answers.

Answers would come with time. For now, she had to focus on the next step for survival. There were still two role slots she could fill since she hadn’t given one out at Dungeon Level 4. The more dungeonfolk she had specializing in certain areas and able to give out quests, the better. She would lean on leaders to know what’s best for their area of expertise and help them all come to agreement on daily division of labor over tea.

The roles remaining were; Lieutenant—one of the roles she’d had since Level 1—Alchemist, Horticulturist, and Inventor. She knew exactly where to go next.

Dolli walked around the corner to X Marks the Spot to find Rufus working in the light of a torch. He hammered a board into place to patch a gaping hole made from the battle.

“Ho’ there,” Dolli said in a deep, playful tone that mocked Greg. “How’s this coming? Using enough nails?”

“Too many, apparently,” Rufus said, then rolled his eyes at Dolli.

She laughed. “We’ve got enough spare metal; I think we’ll be fine.”

“Well, what brings you all the way down here?” Rufus set his hammer aside and pulled up a barrel to sit on.

Dolli opened the Overlord menu and summoned the Lieutenant pin into her hand. “I want you to be my right hand. When I’m dead, or in the Lifewell resting, I want you to be in charge. The dungeonfolk respect you, and your combat coordination is good. You have a pulse on the village, and you’re the centerpiece here. Information flows to you at the inn, or I suspect it will again when you get a good brew on tap.”

The shared a laugh, then Rufus reached out for the pin.

“I’m honored,” he said, inspecting it. “Are you sure this is the right choice? What about Brene?”

“Brene is a good soldier. I’m sure there will be a role for her in the future, but this one is for you.”

“But why me?”

Dolli scowled. “Were the reasons I offered not good enough? I could come up with more. Let’s see, you’ve been loyal, supportive, my only friend…”

Rufus shook his head and smiled. “I just wonder if there isn’t someone better. Someone more—”

“There isn’t anyone better, or more,” Dolli said. “If you don’t want it now, it’ll be here when you do.”

Rufus pulled in a deep breath, then a popup appeared in Dolli’s vision.

[Rufus Kruger has accepted the role of Lieutenant!]

“I know that’s a lot of responsibility. Thank you,” Dolli said.

“You’re welcome,” Rufus replied with a smile.

Dolli turned to head back home, then paused. “Teatime is at dawn in my cottage. We’ll discuss allocation of resources and labor, breaks and Lifewell rotations, plans, the likes. Everyone with a role will be there.”

Rufus grunted. “Meetings. I didn’t sign up for any meetings.”

“Read the fine print next time!” Dolli gave him a wave and headed off.

She returned to the cottage and sat in her rocking chair, then reviewed the roles again. The smartest choice for Alchemist would certainly be her. No one knew local fauna like her, but could she give herself a role?

She grabbed the pin and held it out, then focused on it. A popup appeared.

[Would you like to take on the role: Alchemist?]

Perks and shit

Bonus Perk for being Overlord

-----

By the gods, she could. Dolli accepted and glanced up to the top bookshelf where her potion recipe books sat. There was still more to do in the menus, though, so Dolli returned to completing quests and assigning new ones.

There were intermittent requests from random monster asking to join the dungeon which Dolli all approved. She’d have to coordinate some kind of “Welcome” meeting. Or perhaps she could get Rufus to do that…

Dolli saw the “Hero Quests” menu floating aimlessly amid the sea of Overlord tabs. She opened it to see the Plague quest staring back at her, and one hero name on the active list; Keegan. Dolli had hoped she’d never have to see him again, but it looked as though he was going to be just as stubborn as she could be.

She welcomed the challenge. She invited the threat that pushed her and her dungeonfolk to greatness. Let him come. They would be ready.

The night passed all too fast. Greg, Julie, and Rufus gathered at the cottage, and Dolli made a pot of tea. Nubiri was still in the Lifestream, but Dolli would fill her in on all the happenings.

“First order of business,” Dolli started the gathering. “We need to name our dungeon. If we level up again, we will forever be known as The Dungeon of Little Crossroads.”

“That duh’nt have a very nice ring, does it?” Greg asked.

“No,” Julie agreed.

“How about Monstrocity, like Monster City. We’re all monsters, and Dolli, you’ve been getting new recruits by the hour.” Rufus said.

“Hmm, not bad. What about Monstropolis!” Dolli offered.

The group mumbled and shook their heads.

Julie scowled. “You’ve got it all wrong. Dollitrice, from the moment we became a dungeon you’ve been lettin’ monsters in from all walks—this is true. But we’re not a monster city, and we’re not Little Crossroad anymore. We’re a haven for those who’d escape the heroes murderous reach.”

“Haven…” Dolli tried on the word.

“Monster Haven?” Rufus said.

Julie growled. “What’s with you and this monster business?”

“Monster Haven.” Greg repeated with an approving nod.

“I like it.” Dolli said. “Julie? We have to vote unanimously.”

Julie rolled her eyes. “Yeah, it’s not a bad name, really…”

“It’s settled then.” Dolli opened the menu and input the name, claiming their new identity.