The Bee Dungeon

Belissar and Chief Rohsuak then discussed some details.

“I see, so you’re planning to expand tomorrow?”

Belissar nodded.

“Yes, it’ll probably be best to wait and see what I have available then.”

Chief Rohsuak rubbed her chin.

“I’ll have the clan move just outside the Sacred Den in that case. Will you require assistance with the expansion?”

Belissar’s eyes widened.

“Ah…actually, yes. It’s basically a fight against a big shade, like the little ones that your hunters fight but as big as me. And, um, that spit clouds of death mist or something. Or that can fly and summon lightning.”

Chief Rohsuak nodded.

Belissar slowly nodded.

“If you’re sure…the help would be appreciated. I believe my bees can handle it but we’ve been surprised before.”

Chief Rohsuak narrowed her gaze.

“Yes, we, too, have suffered from the unpredictability of the Hunger. Very well, you will have our support.”

Belissar smiled and nodded his head.

“Thank you, that’s appreciated.”

In more ways than one, in fact. Not only would the karnuq give him a good backup plan if a shade managed to overwhelm or escape his bees, the fact that they were willing to help him fight reassured Belissar that he wasn’t making a mistake with this. They really did intend to make good on their promises and become his Tower Guard.

With that, he and Chief Rohsuak hammered out some other details. Belissar was already providing them with food and supplies, so, to his surprise, there was very little he needed to do that he wasn’t already. Ideally he would prepare a place for them to stay within the Tower, but that would have to wait as Belissar wasn’t sure what rooms he’d want to place after the next expansion. Additionally, there was the issue of Remnant spawning, which Chief Rohsuak was a bit surprised to find Belissar had little control over. He had seen a Rest Zone feature, however, so they both hoped they’d find a way to make it possible.

So, to Belissar’s continued surprise, most of the discussion was on what the karnuq would do for him. Chief Rohsuak basically told him that the tribute they offered him when they gathered stuff from his Tower would now apply to everything they did, seeing as they were his people.

“Um, are you sure about that?”

Chief Rohsuak nodded.

“You are offering your protection and we are becoming your people. It is only natural. And, Sacred Den Master, may I offer some advice?”

“Um, sure?”

She looked him in the eyes, causing him to flinch a bit.

“It is not wrong for you to seek your own benefit, you know? You have been extremely generous and we trust you to be fair.”

She sighed as Belissar frowned. She then placed her finger on her chin and glanced up at the bees hovering above.

“How about this? Think of us as part of your bees. You take care of them and they obey you and offer you the fruits of their labors, correct? It is something similar for us.”

Belissar paused. For a brief moment, he imagine Chief Rohsuak flying around on a pair of wings, attempting a “King best king!” dance.

He couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Chief Rohsuak blinked and tilted her head.

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“Sacred Den Master?”

“Heh, it’s…nothing, haha.”

He took a deep breath and then smiled at her.

“Well, you’re no bees, but I think I understand what you’re trying to say. I build you a home like I did for them and you help me like they do?”

Chief Rohsuak returned his smile.

“Exactly.”

Eventually, they had hammered out as much detail as they could. Chief Rohsuak took the karnuq back to their camp, intending to move the rest of the clan over to the Tower. Belissar busied himself by accompanying the soldier bee army to the Apiary. They gathered by the first entrance to the Dirt Tunnels, the one built into the walls of the Apiary, and then practiced fighting an enemy emerging from the tunnels. They practiced short dives into the cave, having sprayers attack from outside, and forming different encirclements to stop an enemy from leaving.

As the day wore on, Chief Rohsuak returned to the Tower once more, followed by the entire karnuq clan. Belissar and the soldier bees made their way over. The karnuq all gathered before him, every man, woman, and child. Chief Rohsuak stepped towards him.

“We are ready, Sacred Den Master.”

Belissar nodded at her.

“Me too.”

She then smiled.

“Just one thing. May I ask for your name, or do you prefer Sacred Den Master?”

Belissar flushed as he realized that he had never given any of the karnuq his name.

“Oh. Um, I’m Belissar. Err, nice to meet you?”

Chief Rohsuak chuckled softly.

“Nice to meet you too, Sacred Den Master Belissar.”

Fortunately for Belissar, the conversation finished and Chief Rohsuak returned to the karnuq. She then led them in striking their chests with their fists and lowering their heads.

“I, Chief Rohsuak the Blazing Berserker, in the witness of the God of Bees, swear myself to the service of Sacred Den Master Belissar. To be his shield and spear, to be his hands and feet, and to ensure that his Sacred Den stands. Let the gods bear witness and hold me to my oath.”

The other karnuq all followed suit with their own names. Belissar gulped but tried to repeat their motions. He felt he should at least say something in return.

Accept offer of allegiance?

“Um, I, Belissar, master of this dungeon…in the witness of the God of Bees, accept. I…promise to do my best to house and protect you all. Um, let the gods bear witness and hold me to my oath?”

He turned to face the Shrine of Bees. His eyes widened, along with the karnuqs’, as the Shrine of Bees began to glow bright. He, along with each and every karnuq, were surrounded by a golden glow, which then flashed once and disappeared.

You have gained 132 sworn defenders.

Sworn Defender: An outsider who has sworn to defend a dungeon. Bound not to harm the core or the dungeon master, and to defend it from existential threats. Immediately gains a minor blessing from the dungeon’s patron and may interact with dungeon mana. Remnants will not spawn around a sworn defender unless they specifically intend to be challenged. Do not cost mana to upkeep, but mana may improve the bond with a given sworn defender, unlocking additional interactions with dungeon mana.

Both Belissar and the karnuq were left blinking as the glow receded. The karnuq all began to stare at their hands, and Belissar could now feel them stir up their mana. In fact…he could now feel them like he did his bees, though the connection was noticeably weaker.

There…was a lot to take in, for both parties. But Chief Rohsuak kept her wits about her and bowed her head towards Belissar once more with a smile.

“Thank you, Sacred Den Master Belissar, for accepting us.”

“Oh, um, you’re welcome? It feels like I should be thanking you for promising to protect the Tower.”

Chief Rohsuak’s smile grew.

“If all goes well, perhaps we shall both thank each other?”

Belissar slowly smiled at that.

“That sounds nice.”

But the biggest surprise was yet to come. Niobee flew down in front of Belissar and began to dance.

“King! Outsiders now King’s workers?”

Belissar smiled at her.

“Something like that.”

She turned to face Chief Rohsuak and began to dance.

“Good! Work hard for King!”

Chief Rohsuak paused only for a moment before nodding.

“Yes, of course.”

The rest of the karnuq were not so calm.

“…did that bee just talk?”

“Um, I didn’t hear anything but I somehow did? What?”

“Maybe we can hear her dancing? Is that the blessing of the God of Bees?”

“L-Look, the other bees are dancing, too!”

The bees, for their part, were also conversing.

“Outsiders…can dance now? Part of King’s hive?”

“Part of hive of hives? But…they’re not bees?”

“Not bee…but like King? So, ok?”

Niobee flew up before the soldier bees and began her own dance.

“Not bees, but belong to King now, so ok! As long as work hard for King, can join hive of hives!”

With that, all the soldier bees saluted as one.

“Yes, Conduit!”

With that, the soldier bees began greeting dances to the karnuq. The karnuq were left with wide eyes as they said hello to the soldier bees. Belissar crossed his arms and nodded at the sight with a smile.

Well, there was a lot going on, but he was very much happy that they could talk to the bees now. And very happy to see them doing so without issue. That was a crucial step if the karnuq were truly going to make their home in his Tower. He was also pleased to hear the bees were ok with this and accepted the new defenders. He…probably should have spoke with them before accepting the karnuq’s oath. He should probably speak with the queens regularly, in fact.

And in particular, he should probably talk to Niobee and the queens about the karnuq before she started putting them to work, from the sound of things…

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