>>6308415“What the Hells are you talking about?” Oti mutters as Obber shrinks under the abuse!
“<span class="mu-i">Mmm… SO powerful…</span>”
“<span class="mu-i">GRANSII</span>.”
“Whuh!?” The Gnok sputters as she’s forcibly removed from La-La Land, “O-oh! I was, um… absorbed in thought… r-research thought…”
“Focus on ‘<span class="mu-i">Getting Out Of Here Unscathed</span>’ thought, if you please,” The Chytree drones as his eyes scour your surroundings for movement, “I have far too much to accomplish before becoming some kind of sporepuppet dancing at the whim of a pack of geriatric ghouls, thank you very much.”
“Always so <span class="mu-i">forceful</span>...” Groans the Gnok before she turns to address her sullen-looking brother. “Did you manage to uncover <span class="mu-i">ANYTHING</span> useful? <span class="mu-i">Hmm?</span>”
After a few minutes of vague hissing, clicking, and groaning, Toppel begrudgingly gives her brother a pat on the head before turning to face you and Oti.
“It’s a village of sorts. Mainly concentrated in the center, of course. Obber doesn’t think anyone saw him, but Obber doesn’t <span class="mu-i">think</span> much anyways, so…”
“Yes, yes, he’s pathetic,” Oti says with an impatient sigh, “Proceed.”
“There’s a tunnel across the cistern,” Toppel adds with a huff. “But it’s blocked by… <span class="mu-i">growths</span>. Razing the settlement would be the swiftest solution, but-”
RAZING IT!? Your sudden outburst causes your companions to recoil!
“As I said,” Toppel growls, “It would be the fastest solution…”
“And a prudent one.” Oti adds with a grave nod. “Zetsun are unpredictable. Charming one second, vicious the next. Like Shyppas, but less motivated by food, moreso by…” He hangs on the last word. “... progeny.”
“We can skirt the village, but the best route extends along the cistern water’s edge,” Toppel adds with a deepening frown, “Obber claims to sense something in the sludge, so stealth would be preferable.”
A low wheeze escapes her brother’s perpetually-smiling lips.
“Right, right… there’s some kind of <span class="mu-s">TOWER</span> on the side of the village opposite from the water.” She pauses. “Could belong to the <span class="mu-s">COLONY ELDER</span>.”
You blink. Are they…
“Lucid? Yes, comparatively.” Oti interjects in a Naturalist’s tone. “Aggressive? Every colony is different.” His eyes flicker. “I tend to assume the worst.”
Yea, you <span class="mu-i">noticed</span>. Weighing your options of moving forward, you decide to…
>Fight your way through to the exit!>Sneak along the waterfront!>Slip through the village proper!>Pay a surprise visit to the Elder!>Find a Zetsun and ask to parlay!>Cause a distraction and slip by!>Send Obber out again to scout!>Head back the way you came!>Write-In! 