Kess and her spiderlings have been expanding the nest as well as building probing tunnels to try and search for new pockets. At the same time Xelu, Set, and I have been exploring outward while I'm not reading about vampires. The forest is surprisingly almost fully grown back. The wretched had devoured a large portion of it leaving nothing behind but, they did leave the new sprouts alone oddly enough. Quite nice as the cliff is noticeably weird at this point with Xelu and Vulki's spawners on top of it. I tried to hide them by stacking rocks in front of them. However Vulki's cubes glow a weird color at night, somehow making it look ominous.
The most changed place would have to be the arachne queen's nest. It was a bit reckless even though I had Set check it out first. Surprisingly, not a lot of damage was done to the actual structure when the Zephyr Lord attacked. Only the entrance had been widened from it's siege. What I saw from first entering was that all of the webbing had turned into a toxic looking purple, with some of it showing a little bit of a neon green. Even the rock near the entrance had started to turn from blue to purple.
Whatever poison was used to kill her must have been extremely potent. Anyways it seems that this place has been entirely cleaned out. Checking the room I had first 'appeared' from gave me a suprise though. All the corpses are gone leaving a large empty space. Hmmm? I notice a little silver twinkle from something. Nothing should be reflecting light as the purple webbing absorbs light..... Well there is a faint green glow, but that should not be able to produce a twinkle like that.
I walk over on high alert with Set. I had left Xelu outside to watch for any potential threats.... What I see is a small silver ring. Engraved on it is the name 'ALEX'....? Name seems familar.... What is this doing here? Only guess I have is that it was buried under all the corpses. Unlike me and my subordinates, most organisms need to eat so maybe....
'A ring in a place like this is weird, isn't it?' Set
She's thinking along the same lines huh.... I have an odd feeling seep into me. A similar feeling as to the one that Kess and Xelu give off. This one though..... I can only explain it as a desire to keep it close. A ring that makes you desire it? I've heard that somewhere before, although where exactly eludes me. I slip it on my ring-finger and move on.
What I didn't know was that this action would cause some choas in the future.
------
Leaving the Arachne queen's nest, I decide to check out the dungeon. Telling this to Set and Xelu leaves them in a weird state. Set seems to be seems to be checking out our surroundings with with extreme focus and Xelu is scanning from above. Did Vulki tell them something? I enter stealth and slowly crouch-walk to the dungeon.
What I see is a bit weird. Space seems to distort and parts of it stretch out and rubberband back. After a while it seems to die down and everything is calm. A unique sight indeed. I can see the ground the entrance is burned but the entrance looks fine just that the portal is missing.... I'd rather not go inside the area behind where it should be with space being as weird as it is. My decision is correct as it acts up again rapidly stretching, almost reaching to where I am.... Hopefully, this doesn't turn into a problem.
The Drow higher-ups should have some idea and since they aren't doing anything..... It's fine? Well that's enough investigating for now. I have a hankering to get back and start reading over more information on Vampires.
------
Returning to the nest Vulki looks relieved. I start explaining to her the situation at the dungeon and she nods.
"Dungeon explosions are uncommon but not rare. Usually the strongest creatures that emerge are epic-rank ones so they are not treated with any real importance as most are killed by the space distortions. The drow had experimented with the distortions a bit but, there was no real benefits to be found...." Vulki
I lay down after talking about the rest of what I discovered. The most comfortable things are usually made by Set. She made a bed for me previously and she recently made a long couch. It's made of viscous amber and blank ink that doesn't stick to anything. The best part is the sense of ease given off when you rest on them. I start reading as I hear Vulki start to educate Xelu about common sense.
------
Aein POV-
I watch the young master go about his days. It seems that he must have access to some sort of knowledge. Based on him being a summoner, the most likely skill is Wisdom's Blessing.... Eventually he goes out with his subordinates. Set and Xelu. They have some unique aspects but, the one that interests me the most is the one named Kess. It seems that she is extremely gluttonous..... Although, she may not have that as an aspect, she may have the potential for it to appear whenever she evolves..... Malady seems to be happy about that as well for some reason.
Observing him run around, he eventually makes his way to what looks like a familar nest..... I haven't seen that place in quite a while..... Hmmmm? Something shiny? Young master picks it up and observes it, as do I. He puts it on his finger and..... leaves? A small silver ring. Alex. I have an excellent memory so, why do I feel like I'm forgetting something?
I'll report this to malady. She probably has some insight on this matter.
------
I tell malady which results in her picking me up by my arms and spins around with me. Weird. She is extremely happy and giggly. It must be something pleasant. In most cases she is cold and unapproachable. However, since young master has come around, a portion of her hidden persona has been leaking out.
Suddenly a scream echoes throughout her realm. The prisoner huh. Malady's mood sours as she sends out signals and the screams quiet down. Eventually a smile breaks out on her face again.
"This is quite a pleasant occasion?" Aein
"Yes! Yes! The ring is quite special to me, I had planned on using it to~but I had lost it~ who woulda thought it would end up in his hands anyway~" Sillith
Her words break up in the middle but, I get the gist. She had been meaning to give that ring to him.