So how is she dealing with it?
Pretty well, all things considered. I mean, after gnawing off your own hand there really isn't any way but up.
Hal hears Sydney roar in a rage, and something that sounds like a bed getting bouncing up and down. It's hard to tell through the tent, she might be complaining about how all this weird stuff keeps happening to her. Considering her age/weird shit ratio, she's probably right to do so.
...On a general note? I guess she's not taking it THAT well. Don't worry, though, we've got post-hellpoint doctors in there. If anybody's prepared to deal with weird things, it's them.
What's the hellpoint?
Ahhh, yes, topsiders. Well, essentially, that was the point in time that we discovered the first layer of hell, filled to the brim with demons and chaos magic.
...Aren't there nine levels?
It took a long damned time to fight our way through, but consider this: While it would have been a near-impossible battle with swords, guns do a lot better. Add to that the help from the elves, and they didn't stand a chance. The weapons you find here is about the stuff that we used back then.
But... There are advancements being made right here. Did nothing change?
Only a select few pass on. Going down a level takes a lot of capital, or you serving somebody that has a lot of money, anyways. We make our levels to counter overpopulation, and it's been working out pretty well.
How many dwarves are there?
We estimate that if you take all the levels together, we're about fifty times the population of topside. Of course, that sounds extreme, but most of our population is at the first level. The deeper you go, the less people.
Suddenly, people hear Sydney again, her voice shriller than usual. She's rambling about metal to cover something up. Wouldn't exactly help. Very shortly there-after, however, there is the now-familiar noise of the cattle prod being used and a few doctors yelling. She got loose again. They keep forgetting that she's way stronger than she looks.
Should we help?
There is NO getting away from the medical guard, trust me.
I'll just trust your judgement on that. Also, what'd you do with her little abominations?
The spiders? We assumed they were magical constructs. Considering the ownership laws, they're with the rest of her stuff in the holding area. Getting a thorough checking to prevent epidemics. Those spores might be harmless NOW, but there's no telling if they'll "activate" again. Chaos is a fickle thing.
Hal sniffs in acknowledgement, having little else to say. He is distracted by the rather inelegant blubbering coming from inside the tent.
Mh. Despression stage.
Hal and the captain jump back in surprise, the captain swearing as he does.
I know, I know. I'm quiet. Anyway, she's finishing up with the emotional turmoil, just about now. I've seen it happen.
You seen a lot of trauma victims?
I am the trauma.
I'm law enforcement. Care to make a statement, miss? the captain says, snidely.
Seems he doesn't take that kind of joke too well.
Yeah. "Joke." Sucy says, staring into the captain's eyes with her arms crossed. Two sides playing chicken, seeing who looks away first. After a tense showdown, backdropped by yet more crying and a demand for "her babies", the captain is the first to flinch, grumbling about how this is pointless.
Hm. As I thought. You going to be okay? Or do you need me to drug you again so you don't shoot anybody.
Hal puts his arm on Sucy's shoulder, and tells her to stop antagonizing people that could have her arrested. The captain lets it slide, surprisingly, though they clearly don't much care for eachother. Brothers and sisters in arms, Hal supposes. They can't get violent, they can't even start yelling...
The captain sniffs in disdain. My chambers, one hour.
See you there.
The captain nods his farewell, and starts writing things down on a notepad he kept in one of his pouches. Hal squints with one eye, head cocked, as he looked at Sucy and the Captain.
Are you two going to do what I suspect you're going to do?
Yes.
...I'll just look after Sydney, then.
Get her spiderlings here, that'll stop the damned crying.
Hal decides to ask the guard before doing that, of course. They permit it, though he wasn't exactly excited about getting what is essentially a wild animal. Those spiderlings probably don't trust him, and to be honest he's not too excited to get them ON him, too. He can handle a drider, but he's less excited about little legs scurrying all over him.
To his surprise, however, the spiderlings were happy to latch on to him. He did his best not to react too hard to the presence of the little things, but you could tell from the amount of sweat that he was merely very calm and orderly in his pure terror. When he arrived at Sydney's bed, she reacted very positively to the spiderlings, which leapt off him. Hal added his own comment: 'SFINE THANKYOU UWELCM BYE. he forced out before leaving and sitting down to take a few breaths nearby.
Sydney, in the meantime, has come to accept that this is how it is. She's playing with her kids as she does it, and accepts that she'll just have to deal with this. Honestly, it's not so bad, probably...
She notes that book is still with her. The Tome. She doesn't know where she even keeps it, but she knows she can just whip it out whenever...
Strange.
Level up!
Choose one normal perk and one Demonic perk
Enhance size: What it says on the tin, all-round bigger.
Enhanced plating: more plating around your human parts.
Biter: enhances both your teeth and jaw power.
Demonic Gluttony: Your claw gains a mouth on the palm. When the "lips" are closed, it just looks and acts like normal. the biting power of this thing is unmatched, and it allows for easy and quick eating.
Demonic Greed: Your claw has a relatively small orifice to shoot a grabbing tentacle out of. This is always visible by a small "plant" at the palm
Magical spikes: grow small spikes at the knees and elbows that conduct magic. A bit more flashy, allows for more maximum mana.
Vampiric drain: You gain access to a special draining spell that sucks out all blood, nutrients and mana from a victim. It takes quite a while, and leaves an impossible to resurrect corpse.
Poison magic: allows you to summon a poison liquid. Takes practice to become useful, and you are completely immune to poison you create.
Demonic Pride: Your hand has a small leech on the palm. Forcing it to enter a humanoid will rewrite their brain to serve you with all their might. It feels addictively good to serve you, once infected. Not even the strongest will can stop it for long.
Demonic Envy: The hand gains a suction cup, allowing it to literally steal faces. This leaves a blank face, and causes the victim to suffocate. Takes a while to perform, and the face remains on the palm for a while. You can let that face speak with the voice of the stolen enemy
Enhance size!: Your spiderlings become larger instantly. They're just a bit bigger in general.
Adulthood: Your spiderlings can now grow visibly older. After a month, they are fully grown, and about the size of medium-sized dog.
Webbing: Your spiderlings gain conscious access to webbing, and will use it in many situations.
Demonic Sloth: Your hand becomes heavier and gains three extra fingers. You can "activate" it to cover yourself in a tent made of flesh. It causes almost instant hibernation, and forces you to remain in "stasis" until woken up by an outside source. Remaining asleep for extreme periods will make things weird. Heals you rather quickly, though.
Enhanced sight: See invisible creatures at all times.
Mother's link: gain increased awareness of all your children. You can feel their status and location more easily.
Participation: You are now fully aware of what goes on during Alexia's trips. You can also talk, like she does.
Demonic Wrath: When you allow go berserk, the hand and arm grows to an extreme amount, becoming nearly impervious to damage and becoming very powerful. Shrivels up your other arm in the meantime. This effects ends without side-effects after you stop raging.
Demonic lust: The palm of your hand has a syringe that allows you to empower people with a touch. They become faster, damage resistant, stronger... but it's a VERY addictive and potent drug. They'll be dependant on you in no time...
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Topic: Web of Life: A Drider's Adventure (Ended) (Read 185816 times)