The Bee Dungeon

After deciding on the rewards, Belissar was about to dismiss everyone when he heard Chief Rohsuak’s voice in his head.

“I apologize for the late report, Tower Keeper, but would you like to hear about my talks with the sigmaka today?”

Belissar’s eyes widened a bit. He had forgotten about those.

“Ah, yes. Is…there a reason we’re using the Tower speak?”

He glanced over at Chief Rohsuak and she moved her eyes in Tarwantrad’s direction.

“Do you wish to inform our guest about the sigmaka and our dealings with them? I did not wish to speak in front of them until you had made your preference clear.”

Belissar crossed his arms. That was a good question. Did he want to tell Tarwantrad about the sigmaka? Or rather, he knew he didn’t mind Tarwantrad knowing, but did he want to tell the Circle and the Compact about the sigmaka?

“I…think it’s fine to let Tarwantrad know. I’m pretty sure she’ll warn us if we shouldn’t let the Compact know? Or is there another reason we should hide it?”

“It depends on if you prefer to prioritize cooperation or contingencies, Tower Keeper. If we inform our allies about our dealings, we could potentially arrange for broader agreements and avoid any misunderstandings. Likewise, letting them both know we are working with other parties may encourage them to cooperate further. But if we want to prepare for the case where either of them prove untrustworthy, an ally they weren’t aware of could become a powerful asset. Additionally, if they are aware of each other, they could potentially make agreements without our knowledge, though this is less likely in this case since you control the only door the Compact can travel through.”

Belissar groaned softly. Again, this was all very complicated. Chief Rohsuak’s expression softened.

“Well, if I had to offer my opinion, I would point out that part of our potential agreement with the sigmaka involves them sending challengers to the Tower. If that happens, there is a chance they might encounter Tarwantrad or another member of the Compact at some point should they visit at the same time. It would be simplest to inform them both of each other before that occurred, otherwise you may need to take measures to prevent such meetings.”

Belissar hummed again as he thought, until a second humming joined his own. He now noticed Niobee hovering in front of his face.

“King ok?”

Belissar glanced around and found all the bees hovering around him. Tarwantrad was looking at him with concern as well. He flushed as he realized him groaning while having a silent conversation with Chief Rohsuak had not gone unnoticed.

He glanced around at the bees and Tarwantrad and then took a deep breath.

“So, there’s another tribe of beastkin nearby called the sigmaka. We agreed to leave each other alone at first, but have recently been discussing an alliance.”

Honestly, he could still barely keep his mind around the complicated situation with the sigmaka and had no idea what the right decision was, or even what his preferred outcome was. But he decided to put that all aside. The God of Bees wanted him to share monster bee queens with Tarwantrad. The God of Flowers had sent Tarwantrad here and the God of Bees had urged him to let her through. If those two gods wanted them to work together, then Belissar would. And…he personally felt that if he could trust anyone outside of his Tower, it was Tarwantrad.

Tarwantrad smiled as he explained the situation.

“I see. Thank you for trusting me with this. Please, proceed as you will. Let me know if you want me to consult with the Circle or the Compact on this, I will not inform them until you are ready.”

Belissar gave her a smile and then gave Chief Rohsuak the go ahead to report today’s talks. The karnuq had a smile of her own on her face.

“I’m pleased to inform you that the sigmaka have agreed to our conditions. We will fight alongside one another against the Hunger and against the Tower Lords. If either of us are attacked by another party besides those two, we will consult with one another on reasonable assistance. In exchange, our Tower will open its doors to sigmaka challengers and inform them of the preferred methods to prove themselves in the sight of our patron god.”

Belissar let out a relieved sigh at that. Despite all the complications and negotiations and worries, the talks had worked out in the end. That was one more ally against the Tower Lords when they eventually returned.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Now he just had to figure out how challenges should work…

His eyes widened and he spun around to face Tarwantrad. He didn’t have to figure it out himself anymore! He had someone he could ask about this sort of thing now!

“Hey, Tarwantrad, how do you handle challengers?”

Tarwantrad blinked at his sudden attention, then began to rub her chin.

“Challengers? Well, most of us in the circle set up guest floors as temples to our patrons so that those who wish to honor or devote themselves to our gods may do so. That’s mostly just a matter of arranging the area as to best suit our patron. My dungeon, for example, is filled with gardens, meadows, and forests where disciples of the God of Flowers may surround themselves with flowers and work to cultivate them. I think Urubran has rooms of different temperatures where disciples of fire may immerse themselves in whatever flames they can handle. Nenavann has devised different environments to showcase water in all its various forms.”

Belissar tilted his head.

“I see, do they fight remnants there?”

Tarwantrad tilted her own head to match Belissar’s.

“Remnants?”

Belissar blinked a few times.

“The mini-shades that appear while challengers are in your tower?”

Tarwantrad blinked back a few times.

“Those? I suppose we get one of those every so often but my monsters and traps normally handle them?”n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

The two stared at each other blankly for a bit. Chief Rohsuak rubbed her own chin.

“It seems that the dungeons of the Circle operate differently than our towers or sacred dens. Remnants are a constant presence during any challenge.”

Tarwantrad’s eyes widened a bit as she turned to Chief Rohsuak.

“You mean to say dungeons in the mortal realms are spawning remnants of the Hunger…constantly?”

Chief Rohsuak nodded.

“I cannot say for the humans’ towers, but for the Sacred Dens I am aware of battling remnants was the primary method of challenging. We proved ourselves before the gods by battling against the Hunger in their name. We do so here as well, though the God of Bees always acknowledges more peaceful methods of worship.”

Tarwantrad crossed her arms.

“I think I may need to consult Nenavann, if you don’t mind me sharing this with him. This sounds far different from how I was taught, so I am not sure how useful my example would be to you. Perhaps it would be best for you to continue as you already know for now. Fortunately, you have the Oracle of Bees present, so you can also consult your patron directly on her preferences.”

Belissar couldn’t help but let out a light sigh. It looked like it was up to him to figure out after all. But then he shook his head and glanced at Velebee with a smile. Perhaps that wasn’t true. After all, who better to teach him how to honor the God of Bees then the god herself?

Tarwantrad looked at him with a serious expression.

“Belissar, how much of all of this do you want me to share with the Circle, or at least with Nenavann? I think it may be wise to consult with him at least on the question of why our dungeons are so different. As for the sigmaka, the Circle approves of friendly relations so it’s up to you. However, it sounds as if you’re preparing for an imminent attack by the Tower Lords?”

Belissar nodded.

“Well, not soon. It took a small scouting party months to get here so apparently any armies will take longer than that. But they are coming for us with ten thousand Tower Guards, so I’m trying to prepare however I can.”

Tarwantrad blinked.

“Tower Guards? And those are…?”

Chief Rohsuak’s face turned grim.

“Fully blessed champions of the gods.”

Tarwantrad’s eyes widened and began to tremble.

“The humans have…ten thousand fully blessed champions?”

Belissar shook his head.

“Sehfitis, ah, a human augur we captured who joined us, said the Tower Lord whose son attacked us has ten thousand.”

Tarwantrad went completely pale.

“B-Belissar, I need to tell the Circle about this. Nenavann at minimum. This…this is something you and I can’t deal with alone.”

Belissar and Chief Rohsuak glanced at each other, both of their eyes widening. For Tarwantrad, one of the mystical fair folk, to be this shaken? Chief Rohsuak gave Belissar a grim nod. He turned back towards Tarwantrad with a gulp.

“Yes, please.”

“Is that so?”

Tarwantrad gaped at Nenavann for a moment before scowling. They were currently in a small office within Nenavann’s dungeon, with a large window looking out over the sea.

“Is that so? Is that so? Nenavann, how can you act so calm?! The human dungeon masters have ten thousand champions! Each!”

Tarwantrad cut off her shouts, though, as Nenavann lifted a hand.

“You have the wrong impression, Tarwantrad. You are imagining ten thousand of our champions. Humans are different.”

Nenavann turned his hand until his palm faced up and then blue lights began to dance above it.

“We of the fair folk live and breathe magic. It flows through our veins and naturally follows our commands. We are promised great power and immortality from our very birth.”

He held out his other hand, leaving it empty.

“It is not so with humans. They are born with short lives and no magic. It takes them years of study and practice to achieve what even a child in the land of the fair does naturally, and by then their time is already ticking. Due to their lack of strength, far more humans will seek the gods’ blessings. An average warrior among our people can match what all but the most exceptional of human champions, while only the most devoted of our people will become champions at all. It is not ten thousand sword saints that come for Belissar.”

Tarwantrad collapsed into her seat.

“Oh, thank the gods…”

Nenavann dropped his hand and grimaced.

“That is not to say, though, that the situation is not extremely serious.”

He rose to his feet and turned to face the sea.

“…we had not expected the humans to have survived the Hunger at all. To hear that they can operate on such a scale…they are far more resilient than we gave them credit for. The threat to Belissar is grave indeed.”

Tarwantrad held herself.

“What are we going to do?”

Nenavann silently stared out the window for a long time.