Chapter 303: World Domination

Chapter 303: World Domination

“This current council of directors has an ethics problem,” said Vaulty. “Generally, members of government should not hold office or other positions with significant political influence in another nation. Inquisitor Nuralie Vyxmeldo’a violates this rule, as do the Ravvenblaq siblings, Sineh Duckgrien, and Xim Xor’Drel. However, this is understandable given Closetland’s fledgling status. I recommend a sunset provision establishing a deadline and outlining how conflicts of interest will need to be resolved.”

Then Vaulty moved on to another area of his limitless expertise.

“Representative money systems have several notable problems when compared to a fiat system. For example…”

And then another.

“There are already reports of minor criminal elements in the capital, new name pending. I have submitted proposals for organizing law enforcement…”

And many more besides.

“Crop production would benefit from a more complex biome, and I have submitted several potential insect foodwebs…”

“Littan road construction is admirable, and I advocate for a continued investment in roadways as additional cities are introduced…”

“There is a dearth of entertainment options in the capital city, new name pending, which will eventually lead to social and psychological issues…”

“Seventy-three.”

“Are any of them time critical?”

“No. Most of them are forward-thinking.”

“Then let’s save the rest for our next meeting. Sound good?”

“Very well.”

There was an awkward moment where we all stood in the armory while I decided whether my next question was a valuable use of our time. Eventually, I settled on asking.

“Is that giant-ass cannon functional?”

“It is.”

“Can we… blow some shit up with it?”

“We were planning on putting it through its paces after this meeting, but I am always agreeable to engaging in casualty-free wide-area destruction.”

I pumped my fist. Three shots cleared out all the targets in the range, and it was over too soon.

Next, I asked Grotto if he also had any bombshells to drop.

He did!

“The six additional Delves we are constructing will be Level 0,” said Grotto. “These will serve as the foundational Platinum-grade challenges for our own Creation Delve.”

The room held its silence like a soap bubble ready to burst, until Varrin sat forward. “This could be an enormous boon,” he said. “But once we have something like this, holding onto it will become a problem.” He looked at me, and I gestured for him to continue.

“Having our own Delver population–beyond those of us in this room–will give us global leverage,” he said. “We can coach the Delvers ourselves, help them with training stats and achievements, and offer standard equipment to ensure their survival through the lower levels.”

“Outta the goodness of our big, giant hearts?” asked Joma.

“Of course not, we aren’t so naive,” said Varrin. A tactless reply, but this wasn’t a political debate. “We condition the support on pledged fealty to Closetland and the acceptance of a knighthood.” Ꞧä𝐍𝖔ＢĘs

“Tie them all to the military, like the Littans?” I asked. Something about that idea made me uncomfortable. I took a moment to examine the emotion while Varrin kept going.

“I believe the Littans are too strict,” the big guy said. “They insist on micromanaging each Delver’s build. We should take the best parts of the Littan method to develop an elite national fighting force, while incorporating the Hiwardian method of granting each individual autonomy over their builds.”

“You mentioned keeping the Creation Delve could be a problem,” I said, gently bringing him to his next point. I had an idea of what he meant, but wanted to give him room to explain it himself.

“Yesterday, Closetland had nothing that another nation would be willing to invade for,” he answered. “There is space, but no valuable natural resources. The limitless Dimensional mana is extraordinary for you and Grotto, but requires obelisk technology to take advantage of it. No one else has that but us, that we are aware of. The current Delve, 1156-B, is valuable, but this, again, is unique because of Grotto. Normal Delves cannot be controlled and exploited by non-System entities. Creation Delves can.

“The phase two Creation Delves have made Creation slots more common,” Varrin continued. “But they are still priceless. A significant amount of a nation’s military power comes from the number of Delvers at its disposal and their quality. Creation Delves are a strategic resource, and if it is discovered that a relatively defenseless nation controls one, I would expect it to quickly become contested.”

“I wouldn’t call us defenseless,” said Xim. “We might be a stiff breeze to Hiward’s hurricane, but if Arlo doesn’t want somebody in here, they’re not getting in.”

“And if they do get in, they’re fucked,” Joma said, sounding bitter. She’d had first-hand experience invading the Closet, where she’d been beaten down and eaten by an Atrocidile. She’d survived it. Technically. Now, she was total besties with Nottagator. I didn’t know why she sounded upset.

“There are many ways for Hiward or Litta to make things painful for us,” said Varrin. “The Closet is not a feathered fawn in a meadow, but it is far from a buck in the sky.”

I furrowed my brow and tried to use context clues to follow Varrin’s idiom. “Would it matter?” I asked. “If someone really invaded and managed to ‘conquer’ the Closet, Grotto could shut down the Delves.”

“That is incorrect,” said Grotto. “Creation Delves exist by the will of the System. Part of the challenge of their existence is allowing Delvers to contest their ownership. While I have been able to bend certain rules due to my status as a Bonded Familiar, this rule is unyielding. Once the Creation Delve is brought online, it will continue to exist until it is destroyed.”

“Which is futile to attempt,” said Varrin. “The prior generation dropped an entire moon on the Hiwardian Creation Delve, and it still stands.”

I gave those points a thoughtful hum.

“If someone comes in and kills Arlo, won’t the Closet implode?” asked Xim. This was news to a few people in the room. Lena, in particular, looked at me aghast. “We still haven’t put down the reality anchor.”

“Yes, this is a minor problem. The System will not authorize the Creation Delve until that task is complete.”

“Okay,” I said. “We still haven’t decided where in Arzia we’d even want to use the anchor to drop a permanent Closet portal. There’s a lot going on at the moment.”

“Gotta get to it sometime,” said Xim. “Can’t keep pushing it back.”

“This does not sound like a minor problem,” Lena added. “This sounds like a veryserious problem!” It was the first time she’d spoken up without being prompted, and she was looking around the room like all of us were insane.

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“It’s not that bad,” said Xim, patting her on the shoulder. “Arlo’s really hard to kill.”

Nuralie nodded. “The chances that Arlo perishes and we are reduced to a molecular paste are low,” she said.

“I mean, if he’s dead, the rest of us probably died first,” Xim added. Lena was not comforted by the duo’s commentary.

“Fuck it,” I said, throwing up my hands. “Let’s put it in my stupid penthouse in the Hiwardian capital.”

“Not the best location,” said Varrin. “Assuming that we’re anticipating frequent travel to and from Closetland, Foundation is a good choice as far as cities are concerned, but your penthouse is in a suburban area below ground in the Formation district. That area is ill-equipped for high amounts of traffic. Preferably, we’d have an embassy of some sort.”

“The penthouse can become the embassy.” I looked at Varrin’s sister. “Riona, want to start putting together that request? I probably shouldn’t create a permanent gateway without Hiward’s approval. If the Kingdom thinks it’s a shit location, maybe they’ll offer us somewhere else.” Riona nodded, and I turned back to Grotto. “What are the limits on the things that can be taken into a Creation Delve?”

Grotto rolled onward as if we’d never been derailed. “A Delver candidate may only take in that which a mundane individual could make use of.”

“No magic items or potions,” I said. Then, I pointed at Vaulty. “But the Zng shit we’re working on doesn’t have requirements. Could we create some kind of starter set that blows steel weapons and armor out of the water?”

“Those items will probably be allowed,” said Grotto.

“Increased survivability,” said Varrin. “Full Platinum Delver population.”

“The Zng items might also lead to novel builds,” I said. “Makes us unpredictable.”

Nuralie spoke up. “Six Delves is thirty Delvers. Other Creation Delves have one hundred slots.”

“It would not be sufficient for a full standard Creation run, but we are working with the System to allow us to have multiple ‘seasons’ of Creation Delves, rather than one annual Creation event. Our average should be similar to what is found in other nations.” He shrugged. “Perhaps we can exceed them.”

“Regardless,” said Varrin, “we should keep this secret for as long as possible. Limit it to the inner circle here in this room.”

There was a beat of silence as everyone’s eyes eventually turned to Lena, who was, most definitely, not in the inner circle. The Littan looked like she’d been trying to make herself as small as possible before falling under the combined scrutiny of the entire room.

“All right, eyes forward,” I said. “Lena is here as my guest, and I’m not concerned about her leaking information. I don’t consider this top secret, anyway. The second we pump out a Level 1 Delver, Hiward and Litta will figure things out.”

Lena sat up in her chair again, cleared her throat, and calmly raised her hand. I gestured for her to speak, which she did after smoothing the front of her tunic. “From the experimental weapons and cannons, the way you all talk of ‘your infantry’ versus ‘their elites’ and which countries might invade and how you can create the most dangerous Delvers you possibly can, well, it sounds like you are all planning to go to war with the entire world!”

“This is–” Varrin rolled a hand in the air. “–typical statecraft,” he finished.

“It pays to be prepared,” I said.

“Yes,” said Vaulty.

While we all tried to reassure Lena, Grotto simply let out a slow, menacing chuckle.

Over the next hour, more discussion was had about Closetland getting her own Creation Delve. It was mostly Varrin fangirling over the opportunity, while everyone else spitballed ways we could produce the ultimate super-Delvers with higher stats, better skills, and the most ass-dope gear possible.

Grotto had remained silent while the rest of us discussed, clarifying here and there when a question floated his way. Once that was done, he had some other matters to address.

“As Arlo pointed out earlier, we have a Level 40 Dungeoneering evolution available. The reason this is pertinent to Closetland on a larger scale is that each of the evolution options could be used to enhance more than merely the Delves.”

After he set the scene, Grotto sent along the evolution options.

Didactic Delving

For each Dungeoneering evolution you possess, Delves, Dungeons, and Labyrinths you control grant an additional +50% intrinsic skill progression to crafting skills used within their confines.

This bonus only applies to crafting skills you possess.

This bonus only applies if the crafter’s skill level is lower than your own.

Divulgent Delving

Any entity that enters a Delve, Dungeon, or Labyrinth you control is marked for so long as they remain within it. While an entity is marked, you are always aware of its exact location. Active Skills used by a marked entity that cause invisibility or create illusions fail unless the modifying skill level is equal to or higher than your Dungeoneering skill level. You and your allies gain a bonus to all attempts to perceive a marked target equal to your Dungeoneering skill level.

Defensive Delving

Choose one ally to become your champion. You and your champion become resistant to Physical damage and gain DR All equal to your Dungeoneering skill level while within a Delve, Dungeon, or Labyrinth you control. You can change your chosen champion as a one-hour activity.

“These all appear to be limited to Delves,” said Varrin.

“And Dungeons,” said Xim.

“And Labyrinths!” added Etja.

“And what, precisely, are the bounds of a Delve?” asked Grotto. “The meeting chamber in which we sit is within Delve 1156-B. So long as there are no Delvers running the Delve, it is more secure than any other area of the Closet.”

“So what are they?” asked Joma, tapping her ebony talons on the table. Grotto sent her a minor scowl, which bounced off her like she was rubber and he was glue. “What? Rhetorical questions irritate me, and you know the answer.”

“Delves have no size limitations, but there are two primary rules constraining them. First, any area within the Delve must be one that could theoretically be reached by a Delver running it. Second, the area must serve to benefit the Delve and its purpose as defined by the System.”

“What Grotto’s getting at is that we could create crafting zones,” I said. “It would give a 150% progression bonus to any crafting skill either Grotto or I have, up to our own skill level.”

“You wouldn’t benefit,” said Xim. “But other people would.”

“Imagine what we could charge people to use them,” I said. “Other than Dungeons, where can you get a bonus like that?”

“But randos could access it while they’re going through the Delve,” Xim added.

I shrugged. “Doesn’t bother me. We coordinate with Grotto to close ‘em down to the public while the Delvers are doing their thing.”

“All right, I get the first one then,” said Xim. “The second evo would, what? Give us more secure hideouts?”

“Security zones, kill boxes, honey pots, the potential misery of our foes is endless.”

“Then the last one,” said Varrin, “Defensive Delving, sounds the weakest. It only applies to two individuals. It is far less flexible than the prior two.”

“Kicks ass for bosses and keeping the Core alive,” I said. “But, yeah, not the best for us. Question is, do we want crafting zones, or better security?”

“Security was a problem with Charl,” said Xim.

Riona interrupted. “I believe it was mentioned that we would receive a report on this Charl person?”

“Right,” I said. “Grotto, let everyone else in on the Charl situation.”

Grotto dutifully let everyone else in on the Charl situation.

“From what you are describing,” said Riona, “it does not sound like these potential security zones would have mattered for someone like Charl. That is, unless you plan on encompassing the entire capital, new name pending, within a Delve of some sort?”

“It is possible, but the city would need to serve the Delve.”

“That creates too many potential issues,” I said. “I’m personally a fan of the crafting one. It’ll help a ton with getting new Delvers up to speed with making their own gear, as well.”

“The benefits would encompass the entire Creation Delve,” said Varrin, stroking that wonderful chin of his again. “Would this allow Delvers to acquire those intrinsic skills while inside?”

“I believe a case can be made to the System to allow for that benefit.”

“I’ve got Smithing and Wandmaking,” I said. “Wandmaking is a subset of Woodworking.”

“The evolution would encompass the broader skill. The majority of the evolution’s effect will draw from our experience, but the System will supplement it as well. As for me, my current crafting skills are Botany, Engineering, and Golemancy.”

“Shame there’s no Tailoring,” said Xim. “Otherwise, you’d have all of the most common crafting skills covered.”

“Arlo still has an intrinsic skill slot open. He could take it.”

“Not super useful to me,” I said. “Or the party. We already have two tailors.”

“Security is valuable,” said Varrin, interrupting our digression. “But the benefits of Divulgent Delving are niche. I agree that Didactic Delving is the best choice. It could make us a crafting powerhouse if managed correctly.”

“All in favor?” asked Etja, throwing a hand up.

The ayes had it, and so began Closetland’s Factorio arc.