Posts from 🦊 Планета Флерантор, осколки человечества 🦊 Auto-translation in progress

Ferda looked at Zaya, then turned away. “Two isn’t enough,” said the huntress, stating the obvious. “Find someone else and come back.” In the old days, Zaya used to go on expeditions with her large family.

At the cost of another action point, Aristarch triumphantly returns to the excavation site. Unfortunately, his friends are immediately arrested for a particularly egregious absence from their patrol duty. Aristarch remains with the company of warrior experts.

Everything is stable at the excavation site.

They proceed to the settlement to see the Augur...

The stranger smiled sweetly and demonstratively licked her lips. “It’s because of me. Oh yes. And everything went very well,” the woman moved threateningly towards Ida. “But it was only fun for me. My slaves are still bored. I'll have to give you to them as a gift. To brighten their lonely evenings when I'm not around.” The stranger's eyes flashed with bright light, turning from blue to gold; the aura of mind consumption took shape and began to envelop Ida in sticky threads, drawing her into an endless abyss and whirlpool of apathy. But suddenly… …a cheerful old woman appeared from behind the stalagmites. “Why can’t you just sit in your tent, Siren?” exclaimed the surprisingly spry grandmother on the move. “Now go home! Stop creating problems for me! Remember our agreements!” The stranger pouted, cast a contemptuous glance at the old woman, but nevertheless obeyed. A couple of moments later, both suspicious women disappeared into the darkness of the caves. And Ida... Ida unexpectedly forgot about Siren. All that remained in her memory was the face of a beautiful girl with piercing blue eyes.

Ida found herself standing next to the place where she had just been trembling with fear. The girl didn't understand what had just happened and how to react to it.

Did Utar and Mahra take away all the monsters?

For the price (oh no!) of one action point and one unit of supplies, Aristarch returns to his native settlement. The swordsmen warriors bid him farewell, and the great explorer approaches the wise soothsayer Augur alone.

“You’re here. Not bad,” began the teacher, barely noticing the underachiever. “What delayed you, Aristarch?”

Uthar took the corpses of the Gnawers; other warriors took the bodies of the fallen soldiers. But the ingredients from the monsters hadn't dropped yet before that.

Although Ida no longer knew anything about the reasons for the unexpected madness of the wise man Uthar, she still needed to return to the campfire and rest. Her energetic teacher had no intention of returning to the settlement of scholars, and soon Ida would have a walk through the mountains.

– What a pity that my beauty is only around 3, and we don't seem to have any girls with a 4. I guess I’ll have to get down to research; maybe something useful will come up along the way. Hmm, maybe I should study medicine so fewer clumsy mages die and I get paid more? Feels like too much effort right now.
Putting things off for later, Khryashch shuffles towards the exchange point.

Basically, I was planning to check the loot and go to sleep to skip a day.

Emotionally exhausted, Ida looked around and silently hobbled to her tent. There, the girl lay down in her sleeping bag. While trying to fall asleep, she once again mentally replayed what had happened: a naked, crazy teacher who first attacked her with his saw, no less insane Mahra, whom enchanted fighters groped after being affected by her bomb, disgusting monsters surrounding the camp from all sides, and, most terrifyingly, the death of two soldiers. In general, while Utar waved his saw and his groin-club, Ida feared that the severely wounded warriors might also die. Fortunately, it didn't happen.
For some reason, an image of some unknown beautiful woman kept popping into her head from time to time, as if distracting her. However, in the stream of Ida's thoughts, it was forgotten just as quickly as it appeared.
The girl wondered – why did she get involved in all this? What did she learn today? That a teacher could suddenly take off his clothes and attack her out of nowhere? That there is unknown horror lurking in the Dungeon? Perhaps the deaths of the warriors served as some kind of lesson for her? Unlikely.
She even thought about giving up everything and going home, even without escort. But firstly, that would be pure suicide. One of the monsters approached from the side where they came to the campsite, which means it’s not safe there. Secondly, it would be disrespectful to those who fought and fell today. Thirdly, it would simply be stupid, because after such an experience, Ida would lose everything. However, it seems that the first two arguments worried her more than the last one. It is better to be a walking ghost in the eyes of others than literally become one, if they exist at all, and wander aimlessly through the catacombs.
While Ida pondered all this, tears flowed like a river. The handkerchief that the girl had taken with her could have been wrung out. The most difficult thing was to suppress sobs. Ida felt bad, but feeling like a burden, she didn't want to disturb the peace of those around her.

– You’re here. Not bad,” the teacher began as soon as he saw his underachieving student. “What kept you, Aristarch?

“I suppose I should tell everything in order, teacher.”
“The excavation site doesn't seem to have anything special at first glance. Workers are working, guards are guarding, someone is sitting in a tent waiting for their shift. Mistress Clarissa manages all of this.”
“But…”
“First, when I said that I came on your behalf, her look… it was as if she wasn’t happy about it…”
“Second, during the inspection, I got too tired and asked Mistress Clarissa to give me a place to rest. She agreed, but in return, she asked me to deliver some kind of package to a woman. It didn’t seem like anything special, but… I remember the appearance of that woman, I remember taking the package to her and giving it to her, but I don’t remember how I went to her, or how I returned, or what happened while I was handing over the package. It’s as if my memory has been erased. I would think it was an enchantment, but the package and Mistress Clarissa's request are real! That’s strange, teacher!”
“And thirdly, when I returned, Mistress Clarissa’s gaze was… somehow surprised, or something… As if I shouldn’t have come back at all!”
“Well, then I met three fighters from the clan of brawlers who were waiting for their shift at that moment. And then I thought that since I was already here, why not take a look at the nearby caves? I suggested that the fighters accompany me, and they agreed. But unfortunately, we miscalculated the time, and the journey took longer…”
“The fighters missed their shift because of me… I hope they won’t be severely punished? They helped me a lot…” Aristarch said with a sigh, after which he paused briefly and told the teacher about the results of his “outing.”

“Here is where we found a giant grub and a bunch of cocoons. Apparently, this is its lair, and it’s from here that they crawl into the excavation site.”
“Here is where we discovered a chrot nest.”
“And here – some kind of strange door. Behind the door there is strange music and… something like fire…”
“Here we were attacked by a biter. It has a toothy maw and tentacles like an Inokie. It flies and… bites. It hurts…”
“Here we met the cub of that same biter. I didn’t touch it and let it go in all directions. It flew over here, where adult individuals attacked us. Or rather, one individual…”

Aristarch's story was accompanied by showing the corresponding cell on the map of the caves.

“I think the biters are coming out from here,” he says, pointing to the top cell, which is above the cell to the right of the place where they encountered the biter.
“That’s their lair. But I’m not sure.”

Anyone could claim goods from the settlement's warehouses. But only in exchange for something of equal value. The exchange point served its own people more readily, which, however, did not prevent rumors about the monstrous greed of local merchants from spreading.

Here you can make a request for an item of interest and receive a corresponding offer in barter points. Or a refusal.

Settlement of the Suffering. Needs no introduction.
Settlement of the Fighters. Needs no introduction.
Settlement of the Scholars. Needs no introduction.
Mountain Pass. Standard location in the mountains.
Snowy Forest. Standard location in the mountains.
Ratodon Den. Battle with a large squad of snow ratodons in exchange for a reward (cleared)
Underground Passage. Ability to descend to the corresponding cave tile. Or ascend.
Ineok Den. Battle with a large squad of ineoks in exchange for a reward.
Flower Glade. Exchange two action points for 2-5 enchanting flowers.
Mountain Peak. A certain NPC dwells here.
Frozen Lake. Exchange action points for a chance to get +1 to a random stat.
Ice River. Exchange three actions for the ability to move to the next tile and receive random loot.
Treasure Site. The chest can either be picked with a skill or opened with an ancient key.
Mysterious Place. I wonder what's there...
Outpost. A suspicious location...
Mountain Ascent. Ability to descend into the forests by the western coast. Or ascend to the mountain ridge.
Tunnel. Standard location in the caves.
Excavation Site. Needs no introduction.
Crystal Cave. Exchange two action points for 2-5 valuable crystals.
Khrot Den. Battle with a large squad of khrots in exchange for a reward (cleared)
Emperor's Den. Battle with the mini-boss Emperor Zhrud I in exchange for a trophy.
Scarlet Door. I wonder what's behind it...
Coastal Settlement. Needs no introduction.
Shore Forest. Standard location on the coast.
Wastelands. Mighty Vardans await you here...
Chthonic Forest. Death...

The remaining time of Ida’s squad’s rest passes without incident.

In the morning, the wise man Utar makes an unexpected confession.

“I know that many of you are surprised by my brilliant performance tonight. Unfortunately, it was not planned. It seems we have encountered something mind-altering. This is bad. And good,” said the alchemist with a grimace. “Next time, I won't let myself be caught off guard like this. No matter who is behind it. Even if it's the chthonic forest itself! Therefore, I ask all of you to pull yourselves together and continue on your way. We still have a long way to go. But at least we will be in the fresh air. And that is beneficial, you know.”

Meanwhile, Mahra approaches Ida; she is as attractive and silent as ever. She gives some soothing medicine to her distressed younger classmate and goes back to Utar. After a while, the wise man himself comes over. He also gives some soothing medicine, but it is slightly different. More potent and unpleasant to taste. And he leaves too.

Now everyone was waiting only for Ida. It was time to set out.

Ferda looked at Zaya, then looked away again.

"Two is too few," stated the hunter, stating the obvious. "Find someone else and come back."

In the old days, Zaya used to go on hikes with her rather large family.

Yeah, right, as if I'm going to bring my whole family into the mountains. Let them live happily ever after offscreen.

"Okay..."
The girl heads to yesterday's training spot, hoping to find people willing to join the hike.

Sage Augur listened carefully to every word of Aristarchus. Unfortunately, it was impossible to determine his reaction to certain points by looking at his face.

“You have not disappointed me, Aristarchus,” said Augur after a while. “Excellent work. Your ability to notice details surprises even me. I will ask the leader to give you a promotion, but first, you will have to complete one more task.”

By the standards of the Conclave clan, becoming an acolyte at Aristarchus’s age was unheard-of luck. Many remained forgotten forever.

The wise Sage Augur listened carefully to every word of Aristarchus. Unfortunately, it was impossible to determine his reaction to certain points by looking at his face.

"You have not disappointed me, Aristarchus," said Augur after a while. "Excellent work. Your ability to notice details surprises even me. I will ask the leader to give you a promotion, but first, you will have to complete another task."

For the Clan of Knowledge, becoming an acolyte at Aristarchus's age was unheard-of luck. Many remained forgotten forever.

- Thank you, teacher. I am ready to listen to the new assignment!